The French city of Nice hosted last 25-26 November the 52nd General Assembly (GA) of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).
The Assembly approved the entrance of new members, including 58 full members, 11 associate members and one new member with observer status. Note that 19 associates were expelled from the organisation for failing to pay dues. The number of ETSI associates has nevertheless continued to grow; it currently counts 722 members/observers, a sure sign of the organisation’s vitality.
The Financial Committee reviewed the current situation of 2008 budget implementation and presented a number of recommendations, of which the following stand out:
- Recommendation that the GA should take note of an expected deficit of 140,000 euros at the end of 2008;
- Recommendation that the consequences of cost cutting policies should be carefully evaluated with respect to standardisation activity and long term strategy;
- Recommendation that future contracts be signed either in euros or in other currencies only if there is a preset automatic conversion rate, to prevent budget implications resulting from unfavourable exchange rate changes;
- Recommendation that auditors confirm the absence of cross subsidisation between ETSI's commercial and standardisation activities;
- Recommendation to approve the 2009 budget;
- Recommendation to maintain the value of the Contribution Units for the time being;
- Recommendation from the Financial Committee to investigate ways to enhance revenues in 2010/2011.
After this presentation a new member was elected to the Financial Committee. Massimo Actis Dato of UNINFO, Italy, will complete the said committee's team until November 2009.
The Director General also reported the current state of 2008 budget implementation and guidelines for the 2009 budget. The GA took note of the 2008 budget implementation report and approved the 2009 budget, as well as the values of the various contribution units.
The GA also approved the document referring to ESTI strategy for 2009 (which covers issues involving technical standardisation activity and the ETSI organic framework), which had already been endorsed by the directors.
Regarding co-operation, signing or renewal was approved for a number of memorandums of understanding and co-operation agreements.
And with respect to elections, the following results were recorded:
- For GA chairman: the current chairman (and only candidate) was elected - John Philips of Nortel Networks (Europe), from the United Kingdom;
- For GA deputy chairs: Armin Toepfer (Vodafone D2 GmbH) in the Network Operator category, with the support of Nokia Siemens from the Manufacturers category, and Karine Iffour (NORMAPME) in the Users category, with the support of Asut from the Other category;
- Also elected, in the second round, was the Briton Michael Walker of Vodafone UK to the post of board chairman. He ran against the Portuguese candidate (Francisco da Silva of the PT Group), who was re-elected as a member;
- Dirk Weiler of Nokia Siemens Network GmbH & Co KG was elected chairman of the IPR Special Committee.
Lastly, note that during the Specially Convened Meeting held jointly with the GA, a decision was made to eliminate the position of Deputy Director General.
The 53rd General Assembly will take place on 7-8 April 2009, also in Nice.
