The ITU Council met on 11-22 July in Geneva, where the main topics debated included approval of the budget for the 2006-2007 biennium, re-appointment of the New Council Oversight Group (NCOG) and the method for recovering the costs of processing satellite network filings.
Some of the issues discussed are outlined below:
- Budget for the 2006-2007 biennium
The draft budget presented by the Secretary General (SG) to the Council considered two alternative versions, referring to two distinct values for the contribution unit (c.u.): 315,000 Swiss francs (CHF), i.e., nil nominal growth, and 330,000 CHF, maximum limit for the contribution unit established by the 2002 Plenipotentiary Conference (PP02) for the 2006-2007 biennium.
The main differences between the two versions were the postponement to 2008 of the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC), currently planned for 2007, and changing the frequency some meetings are held, specifically those of the Standardisation Sector Advisory Group (TSAG), which would meet only once in 2007, instead of twice as planned.
This issue was the subject of lengthy discussion, first in the permanent commission on financial issues, and finally in the plenary session, given that the said commission was unable to agree on a consensus solution to propose to the plenary session.
In an initial generic approach to the two options there was a clear breach between the countries that contribute more units to the ITU budget, which backed the lower value, and the more countries with lower contributions, which backed the higher value. There was nevertheless unanimous agreement to oppose the postponement of WRC07; the countries that defended the lower value proposed that the savings should be undertaken in less strategic activities. Some countries also suggested seeking an intermediate value for the c.u. as a compromise solution, and this was the path eventually chosen.
The value of 318,000 CHF was thus approved for the u.c., with the WRC to be held as planned in 2007. Savings will thus be necessary and will basically be achieved in the organisation of meetings, which for the three sectors should be shorter and with more time between (though without harming the sectors? activity, the aim being to make them more efficient). Recourse to the reserve account to balance the budget should bear in mind the minimum value recommended by the external auditor and approved by PP02 (3 percent of the budget). At the same time, ITU workers should not be penalised, nor should their motivation be placed at risk. In this context, the Secretary General must nevertheless be given enough flexibility to achieve the requested savings.
- Continuation of the work of the NCOG
As a follow-up to the work of the New Council Oversight Group (NCOG), the group?s report was submitted to the Council. It details the work of overseeing the consultancy project undertaken by the Cap Gemini firm as per the 2004 Council decisions. A document was also submitted to the Secretary General which proposed some projects to implement, bearing in mind the work carried out by Cap Gemini. Note, however, that this proposal was not entirely in line with the consultant?s proposal, which the NCOG did not have time to duly consider, and thus did not endorse. The main difference between the two proposals to continue the work was the level of outside involvement needed and as such the implementation cost.
Portugal, which served as acting NCOG chair (the chairman was absent) and as such worked very closely with the consultants, considered that the project submitted by same had integration features that would enable efficient results; this would not be the case with the Secretary General?s proposal, whose main goal was for the work to pursue to be framed in existing funds that did not imply Council authorisation for new spending.
In this regard, during the presentation of the two said documents, Portugal proposed the establishment of an ad hoc group to function during the current Council session, which would enable a compromise solution to be obtained vis-à-vis the work to pursue, specifically reviewing the mandate, composition and work method of the COG with a view to adjusting it to the work to be undertaken. That proposal was accepted; the said group was chaired by the representative of Iran, vice-chair of the NCOG.
The result of the ad hoc group?s work was a proposed resolution, adopted by the Plenary Session, which indicates the projects to be implemented by the ITU under COG supervision, within the amount available in a fund meant to finance investment in information systems (ICT Fund). This ensures some flexibility as to the manner of implementation, specifically with respect to the contracting of external support. This resolution also includes the revised COG mandate, composition and working methods, although few changes were made compared to previous ones. The main difference with respect to the previous model is that the Council President no longer inherently chairs the group ? the group elects the chair and two vice-chairs. The first meeting of this group was held during the Council meeting; Portugal?s José Saraiva Mendes was elected chairman, and Iran?s Ahmad Sharafat and Canada?s Bruce Gracie were elected vice-chairs.
- Recovery of costs for processing satellite network filings
The issue of cost recovery with respect to the processing of satellite network filings, particularly the method for calculating the tariffs charged by the ITU has been drawn out for several years and considered in successive Council sessions, without however reaching a definitive and consensual solution. Decisions from previous Council sessions led to the billing of exorbitant sums to process some satellite network filings, which led some Administrations/satellite operators to not pay the respective invoices. A considerable amount of debt to the ITU was thus created, which upset the balance of its accounts.
In order to achieve a possible fair solution for the method of calculating how much to pay to process filings, an ad hoc group was set up to function during this Council session. The group worked on the basis of results from previous studies and of the diverse contributions from Administrations submitted to this Council, but above all used a secretariat document that proposed a simpler and fairer coverage method that takes into account the new financial management practices resulting from the outside consultant?s work, specifically results-based budgeting and the work time tracking system.
The group was able to reach a consensus solution for future procedure in this area. It proposed to the Council a new coverage method, along with corrective measures for past irregular situations.
- Council Working Groups
The Council considered, and in most cases approved, the reports from various working groups set up in the wake of the PP02 decisions, specifically on: consolidation of the provisions concerning observers; ITU structure; improved functioning of the Co-ordination Committee; contributions from the Sector members; and International Telecommunication Regulations (ITR).
- Date and place to hold PP06
The Council approved the definitive date and place for the next Plenipotentiary Conference (PP06): 6-24 November 2006 in the Turkish city of Antalya.
- Working group on the draft strategic and financial plans
As stipulated by the instruments of the Union with respect to production of the Union?s draft strategic plan for approval by the PP, and bearing in mind some proposals on the subject submitted during this Council session, the latter decided to set up a working group to develop the strategic plan and financial plan drafts to submit to PP06. This group will be headed by France and open to all members, and should begin work in October of this year. Note that the process now approved is distinct from the method followed to prepare for PP02, when the drafts of the strategic plan and the financial plan were produced separately, with much more involvement by the ITU Members in the former than in the latter.
- World Telecommunications Day
The topics proposed by the SG for World Telecommunications Day 2006 and 2007 were approved: respectively Promoting Global Cybersecurity, and Connecting the Young: the opportunities of ICT.
