WTO AT THE AGE OF 20 Annual 2015 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO WTO Headquarters, Geneva, 16-17 February 2015 Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament | |
| |||
Updated on 29 May 2015 | |||
SESSION DOCUMENTS | |||
Page-flipping eBook with highlights of the session | [English] [French] | ||
Printable booklet with highlights of the session (PDF, 3344 Kb) | [English] [French] | ||
Outcome document | [English] [French] | ||
List of participants | [Bilingual] | ||
Annotated agenda | [English] [French] | ||
[English] [French] | |||
Programme | [English] [French] | ||
Speech of Mr. Krister Örnfjäder, IPU Co-Chair of the Conference | [English] [French] | ||
Speech of Mr. Olli Rehn, Vice-President of the European Parliament | [English] [French] | ||
Speech of Ambassador Fernando De Mateo y Venturini, Chairperson of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body | [English] [French] | ||
Introductory remarks by Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, WTO Director-General, | [English only] | ||
Additional information on the organization of work | [English] [French] | ||
Discussion paper on the substantive debate theme presented by rapporteur, Mr. J. Leichtfried (European Parliament) | [English] [French] | ||
Discussion paper on the substantive debate theme presented by rapporteur, Mr. P. Rübig (European Parliament) | [English] [French] | ||
Discussion paper on the substantive debate theme presented by rapporteur, Mr. A. Singh Thakur (India) | [English] [French] | ||
Discussion paper on the substantive debate theme presented by rapporteur, Mr. J.H. Owona Kono (Cameroon) | [English] [French] | ||
Contribution by panelist, Ms. E. McClarkin (European Parliament) | [English] [French] | ||
Presentation on the Trade Facilitation Agreement by Ms. Sheri Rosenow (WTO Secretariat) | [English only] | ||
WTO booklet on the Trade Facilitation Agreement | [English] [French] | ||
Invitation | [English] [French] | ||
Advance information letter | [English] [French] | ||
Practical information note | [English] [French] | ||
Registration form | [Bilingual] | ||
[Bilingual] | |||
Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO | [English] [French] | ||
Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO | [English] [French] | ||
List of international organisations invited to follow the work of the Conference as observers | [English] [French] | ||
Poster of the session | [English] [French] | ||
RELATED LINKS | |||
World Trade Organization | [English] [French] | ||
Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament | [English] [French] | ||
Geneva Tourism Office (hotel bookings) | [English] [French] | ||
The Parliamentary Conference on the WTO: A decade-long success story. Report to the 191st session of the Governing Council of the IPU (October 2012) |
[English] [French] | ||
PREVIOUS SESSIONS OF THE CONFERENCE | |||
Bali session, in connection with MC9 (Bali, 2 and 5 December 2013) | [English] [French] | ||
Annual 2012 session (Geneva, 15-16 November 2012) | [English] [French] | ||
Annual 2011 session (Geneva, 21-22 March 2011) | [English] [French] | ||
Annual 2008 session (Geneva, 11-12 September 2008) | [English] [French] | ||
Annual 2006 session (Geneva, 1-2 December 2006) | [English] [French] | ||
Hong Kong session, in connection with MC6 (Hong Kong, 12 and 15 December 2005) | [English] [French] | ||
Brussels session (Brussels, 24-26 November 2004) | [English] [French] | ||
Cancún session, in connection with MC5 (Cancún, 9 and 12 September 2003) | [English] [French] | ||
Annual 2003 session (Geneva, 17 and 18 February 2003) | [English] [French] | ||
Note: Documents in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader |
PROVISIONAL ANNOTATED AGENDA | |||
1. | Adoption of the agenda | ||
2. | Debate on the substantive theme | ||
Trade as an enabler of peace and better living conditions | |||
Trade has a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of the people, whether in developed or developing countries. As the best development tool at the disposal of all, it can improve the living conditions of citizens around the globe and help resolve conflicts through peaceful means. In approving such a broad theme, the Conference Steering Committee intended to focus the debate on the role of policymakers, including legislators, in making the best possible use of the potential of trade as a driver for peace and prosperity. |
|||
3. | Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators and officials | ||
Policy, politics and trade: keeping the WTO negotiations on the right track | |||
One of the principal objectives of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is to facilitate politically stimulating dialogue between legislators specializing in matters of international trade and government officials directly involved in WTO negotiations. This interactive session is meant to cover a broad spectrum of views on possible ways to advance the Doha Round, bearing in mind the newly agreed deadline of July 2015 for developing the WTO work programme. |
|||
4. | Hearing with the WTO Director-General | ||
Why trade? Reflections on the WTO anniversary | |||
It has become customary for the WTO Director-General to meet with parliamentarians. During this interactive session, which will focus on the lessons to be learnt from the twenty years of WTO's existence, the Director-General will field questions and listen to brief comments from the delegates. | |||
5. | Panel discussion. | ||
Conveying the benefits of the WTO to the wider public: The case of consumers and young people | |||
The WTO has struggled for years to convince a sceptical public of the enduring value of multilateralism. Part of the problem is that social and economic opportunities created by trade are spread unequally, while the benefits are not inclusive enough. How best to balance free trade and consumer protection? What can be done to better explain the benefits of the WTO to young people? This interactive panel will focus on the need for the WTO, as the centrepiece of the multilateral trading system, to accommodate the interests of specific groups, such as consumers and the younger generation. |
|||
6. | Adoption of the outcome document | ||
At the end of the session, the participants will be invited to adopt an outcome document drafted by the Conference Steering Committee. |
Updated on 13 February 2015 | |
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME | |
MONDAY, 16 FEBRUARY | |
10:00 - 12:30 | Pre-Conference session of the Steering Committee (in camera meeting, IPU Headquarters) |
10:00 - 18:00 | Registration of participants |
15:00 - 15:30 | Inaugural session |
| |
15:30 - 16:30 | Presentation of reports and interactive debate on the substantive theme |
Trade as an enabler of peace and better living conditions | |
Rapporteurs
| |
Discussant
| |
16:30 - 18:00 | Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators and officials |
Policy, politics and trade: keeping the WTO negotiations on the right track | |
Guest Speakers
| |
18:00 - 19:30 | Reception at the WTO |
20:00 - 22:00 | Steering Committee (in camera meeting, IPU Headquarters) |
TUESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY | |
10:00 - 11:00 | Continuation of interactive debate on the substantive theme |
Trade as an enabler of peace and better living conditions | |
11:00 - 12:00 | Hearing with the WTO Director-General, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo |
Why trade? Reflections on the WTO anniversary | |
12:00 - 13:00 | Continuation of interactive debate on the substantive theme |
Trade as an enabler of peace and better living conditions | |
13:00 - 15:00 | Lunch break |
15:00 - 16:30 | Panel discussion |
Conveying the benefits of the WTO to the wider public: The case of consumers and young people | |
Panelists
| |
16:30 - 16:50 | Briefing session |
Enacting the Trade Facilitation Agreement | |
Keynote speaker
| |
16:50 - 17:30 | Conclusion of interactive debate on substantive theme |
Trade as an enabler of peace and better living conditions | |
17:30 - 18:00 | Closing session: adoption of the outcome document |
Rapporteur
|
Updated on 18 February 2015 | |
STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE CONFERENCE |
Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, United Kingdom, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, European Parliament, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and World Trade Organization. |
Home page | Main areas of activity | Structure and functioning | Specialized meetings | Quick search |