Geneva hosted last 11-12 February the first meeting of PT WTSA08, a CEPT project team created to prepare European positions and proposals for the World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly (WTSA-08) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to be held in Johannesburg on 21-30 October 2008. The meeting was chaired by Marie-Thérèse Alajouanine of France and attended by representatives from ten countries. It focused on analysing possible relevant issues for CEPT at the said conference.
Among the main agenda points are the structure and chairmanship of the ITU standardisation sector (ITU-T) study groups (SGs). Regarding the SGs? structure, PT WTSA08 did not achieve a consensus position, as the participants decided further discussion was needed on the activity of ITU-T, in order to set priorities and rationalise that sector?s structure.
Regarding the chairmanship of the Study Groups, the importance of encouraging European candidates for the chairs and deputy chairs of same was stressed. Also on this issue, the project team agreed that the two-mandate limit should be applied in all situations and that the number of deputy chairs per SG should be as limited as possible. As for the nomination of deputy chairs, the discussion considered that the candidates? competence should be an essential condition, along with their availability, to prevent the situations of absenteeism that have occurred.
Also identified were possible discussion points during WTSA-08; particular relevance was given to the possibility of Russia taking the issue of the International Telecommunications Regulation (ITR) to the Assembly, even though CEPT holds that this matter is not the WTSA?s responsibility.
Efforts were also made to identify possible European common proposals. Although it is still too early to move forward on this issue, it was possible to anticipate that the structure of the study groups, Resolution 1 and climate changes will be some of the points covered by the European proposals.
During the meeting the importance of co-ordinating with other regional organisations was also considered, specifically by participating in their preparatory meetings, not only to get to know the proposals from other regions, but also to present European ideas. To that end, it was agreed that Vince Affleck of the United Kingdom would represent CEPT at the May meeting of the African group, while Hassane Makki of Switzerland will possibly attend the July meeting of the Arab countries. The PT WTSA08 chairwoman will also try to take part in meetings of the remaining organisations.
The next meeting has been scheduled for 29-30 April in Paris.
