The outcome of the XVI ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP02) consisted in the introduction of slight reforms in the fundamental instruments of this organization - the Constitution and the Convention - as well as in its working methods. These reforms aim at reducing the size and cost of its structure, in a time of financial restrictions at this United Nations specialized agency for telecommunications, which supreme body met at Marrakech, Morocco, from September 23rd to October 18th.
The reforms, which were far behind what was expected by the European countries, allowed greater autonomy to the three operational sectors of the ITU: standardization, radiocommunication and development. Also, the observers from entities other than Member States - Sector Members and other entities from the United Nations system, private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society - were granted with a wider opening.
For the first time, the approval of the Strategic Plan was carried out in connection with the Financial Plan and the already severe financial situation of ITU became even worse since some Member States, mainly western countries, reduced their contributions.
Consequently, the approved budget was far below the one unanimously deemed necessary, registering a nominal zero growth for the first two years of the four-year period 2002-2006.
One of the reasons put forward for the reduction in contributions was precisely the need to improve ITU's management funds, both in current management, with workers and administrative operations, and in the application of the programmes in its three areas, standardization, radiocommunication and development.
During PP02 closing session, on the 18th of October, the conference Final Acts were signed. The amendments to the Constitution and Convention hereby adopted will come into force on the 1st of January 2004.
Notwithstanding this global evaluation, the PP02 closing session was a moment of affirmation to Portugal, with the realization, on the 17th of October, of a special Council session, in which its presidency was granted to Portugal, represented by the ANACOM board member, Saraiva Mendes. During this special session, the 2003 Council meeting was scheduled, to be held between the 5th and 16th of May in Geneva, at the head-office of the ITU.
Previously, on the 3rd of October, Portugal had been re-elected for a third consecutive four-year term in the ITU's highest body between Plenipotentiary Conferences, the Council, which is composed of approximately 1/4 of its Member States and elected at the Conference.
This leadership in the ITU Council coincided with the taking over, by Portugal, on last 1st of October of the presidency of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). Its first public event under Portuguese presidency, was held in Marrakech with the signing, of a cooperation protocol with its counterpart that groups all former Soviet Republics, with the exception of the Baltic States, the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC).
For further information see Plenipotentiary Conference 2002http://www.itu.int/newsroom/pp02/highlights/1710.html