The CEPT working group on ITU Affairs (WG ITU), which is in charge of basically policy and strategy issues concerning the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), met last 3, 6 and 10 September in Geneva, during the ITU Council session. The aim was essentially to co-ordinate European intervention in that gathering's discussions. It must be stressed that the new group chairman, Anders Frederich of Sweden, whose deputy is Jurate Masiulionyte of Lithuania, oversaw these meetings.
Among the 2007 Council issues, the proposed budget for the 2008-2009 biennium was the top subject; the majority of the group expressed their disagreement with respect to a new use of the reserve account and possible future increase of contribution unit. Also with regard to the proposed budget, Russia declared that the use of six official languages is a primordial principle of the ITU that should not be violated, for which reason it does not agree with the budget lines proposing cuts in that area. In conclusion, the group agreed that CEPT should manifest its concern vis-à-vis the frequent use of the reserve account, emphasising the importance of a balanced budget.
WG ITU also studied the results of the Council working group meetings. The MBG was one of the main issues, basically because the interim chair, José Saraiva Mendes of Portugal, could not continue in the position. The choice of a new candidate thus became pre-eminent, preferably within CEPT. The chosen candidate ended up being Plamen Vatchkov of Bulgaria, though on a rotating basis, which was not endorsed by CEPT as it does not assure the groups stability.
Another subject covered was preparation of the World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly (WTSA). WG ITU was informed of the possibility that the event may be held in Africa, as a means to highlight the issue of the standardisation gap in developing countries. The chair of the project team preparing for this Assembly, Marie Thérèse Alajouanine of France, reported that as in the past three WTSA preparatory meetings should be held to discuss the chairs of the committees and working groups, as well as the working methods. Also with respect to the preparatory meetings, the question of whether CEPT joint meetings can be held with the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC) was considered.
The Group was also informed that there had been requests, namely from Japan, to participate as an observer in CEPT meetings, which in the opinion of the WG ITU chair could be advantageous with a view to obtaining more support, though at the same time the meetings could be less productive and the discussion conclusions more easily disclosed. The Group thus agreed that the meetings could in principle be open to observers, on a basis of reciprocity. However, some meetings, namely during the Council, should be restricted.
The next meeting will be held in Copenhagen in January 2008.
