The works of the 18th Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-10) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) ended on 22 October 2010 with the signing of the Final Acts, a document that brings modifications to the basic instruments of ITU, as well as Decisions and Recommendations created, modified and removed.
This Conference adopted the financial plan of the Union for the period 2012-2015, which foresees the need to resort to the reserve account as a result of the unexpected and substantial reduction in the contribution of large payers such as France and Germany. The Union's strategic plan was adopted, containing the mission and objectives of the General-Secretariat and of each of the Sectors of this international organisation. The highlight among the results of the PP-10 is the adoption of two packages of new resolutions, one on issues related to Internet and the other on matters of cyber security. The adoption of these resolutions was of enormous complexity due to great difference of opinion among State Members on the role to be played by ITU in both areas. Also to be noted is the creation of an Independent Committee of Advisors on Management, composed of five independent experts, for an initial period of four years, with expertise in internal audit, risk management, accounting and external auditing.
Additionally, a new resolution was adopted on preparations for the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), which will take place in 2012 with the aim of reviewing the text of the International Telecommunications Regulation, a matter which has an underlying dispute for several years due to the divergent views on the nature of such review.
On the other hand, a new resolution was adopted, which allows the participation of educational and research entities in the works of ITU, upon payment of a smaller contribution (1/16 unit of contribution required from Sector Members of the Union). Additionally, there were resolutions adopted to promote the work of ITU in the mitigation of impacts of climate change, warning and relief to disaster situations, as well as in the area of child protection, online and e-health.
The PP-10 also discussed some issues of political nature, namely enhancing the status of Palestine in ITU and condemnation of piracy attacks, allegedly caused by Israel, to telecommunications networks in Lebanon. In the former case it was possible to achieve a consensus text through negotiation, in the second case there was the need for a vote that resulted in the adoption of the resolution, albeit with a high number of abstentions (namely the EU countries).
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Common European Proposals discussed at ITU's PP-10 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1055978
- Results of the elections at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-10) https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1054849
- 18th ITU Plenipotentiary Conference begins https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1053922
