The 25th Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which was held in Doha (Qatar) from 24 September to 15 October 2012, brought together some 2,000 delegates representing the organization's 192 member countries.
In particular, note is made of the adoption of the World Postal Strategy, which sets out four goals (improve the interoperability of the international postal networks, provide technical knowledge and expertise related to the postal sector, promote innovative products and services, foster sustainable development of the postal sector). The World Postal Strategy is seen as a fundamental policy guidance tool for the UPU and its members in the performance of their mission in the 2013-2016 period.
In addition, nearly 500 proposals were analyzed, resulting from work carried out over the preceding four years, with the following key decisions:
- review of the terminal dues system and the classification of countries and territories to apply in the 2014-2017 period; the terminal dues system provides for the remuneration that destination postal administrations are entitled to receive from the postal administration of the sender as compensation for expenses incurred in the destination country due to processing objects of correspondence received;
- further work on the terminal dues system taking place in the 2018-2021 cycle, including the development of a timetable for the transition of all groups of countries to the target system;
- progress in the UPU's reforms, in particular as regards the respective structures and management of the Council of Administration (CA) and the Postal Operations Council (POC);
- approval of the financial plan for the next four years, with limits on annual expenditure and expenses inherent to the next congress of the Union maintained unchanged compared to the figures of the previous biennium;
- New payment services agreement, applicable to signatories of the agreement, which updates the previous 2008 version;
- the cooperation policy of UPU development for the period 2013-2016.
Regarding the electoral processes of this Congress, Bishar A. Hussein, Kenya, and Pascal Thierry Clivaz, Switzerland, were elected to the posts of director general and deputy-director general for the 2013-2016 period respectively.
Likewise 40 members were elected to the respective Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council for the same four-year period; most notably Portugal was elected to the Council of Administration.
Finally, Turkey, the only candidate put forward to host the next UPU Congress, was elected by acclamation to host the event in 2016, in Istanbul.
Further information:
- 25th Universal Postal Congress ''New world, new strategy'' http://dohacongress.upu.int/
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- 25th Congress of the Universal Postal Union https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1138399
