The working group (WG) on the Future of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (UPAEP) met in Lisbon on 20-21 July, attended by representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Mexico (chair), Portugal and Spain, along with the Union's Secretary General. The WG examined various proposals concerning subjects associated with the group's goals, specifically the organisation?s structure, financing, strategy planning, development co-operation and reworking of the Acts.
The documents submitted by Portugal (ANACOM and CTT-Correios de Portugal) stand out, on reorganisation of the Advisory and Executive Council, with a proposal made to help improve the work of the Council. Its aim is to set up two commissions - Regulatory Affairs (for issues concerning regulation) and Operational Affairs (for matters of an operational nature) - which would meet annually during the Council and report to the Council Plenary. The separation of the issues to discuss in each commission and in the plenary session should enable better use of time, as the holding of commission sessions would enable meetings of their respective working groups to be held while the other commission is meeting. It will also allow a rationalisation of the delegations? human resources. The document presented by ANACOM also contains a proposed schedule and logistic organisation of the work, bearing in mind the needs of the working groups on the Future of the UPAEP and Technical-Co-operation, which require more time to conduct their work and encompass issues of a regulatory and operational nature. Most of the countries agreed with the presented proposal.
Also noteworthy was the document presented by the Technical Co-operation WG, which aims to ascertain the opinion of the WG members with respect to the changes made to the Technical Co-operation Regulation. The group made a number of comments which will be duly forwarded to the person responsible for the group. The countries pledged to send eventual comments on the work conducted during the two days of the meeting, so that the WG can produce recommendations and proposals.
The next meeting of this working group is planned for October, during the annual session of the UPU Council of Administration.
