ANNUAL 2008 SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON THE WTO Geneva (Switzerland), 11 and 12 September 2008
	Organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament

	The Parliamentary Conference on the WTO is a joint undertaking of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the European Parliament. Its principal objective is to enhance external transparency of the WTO and make this inter-governmental organization accountable to legislators as elected representatives of the people. As decided by the Conference Steering Committee, the annual 2008 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO took place on 11 and 12 September 2008 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG). Participation in the parliamentary session was guided by the general principles set out in Article 2 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO. As on past occasions, the 2008 annual session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO was intended primarily for parliamentarians who specialize in matters of international trade in their respective parliaments. The session provided them with an opportunity to obtain first-hand information on recent developments in WTO talks and consider ways of contributing to the revitalization of this process. It was also be an occasion to exchange views and experiences with colleagues in other parliaments, interact with government negotiators and WTO officials and engage in a dialogue with civil society representatives.

Updated on 18 September 2008

SESSION DOCUMENTS

	Declaration	[English] [French] [English] [French]
	Amended Rules of Procedure of the Conference	[English] [French] [English] [French]
	Guidelines for relations between governments and parliaments on international trade issues	[English] [French]
	Opening speech of Mr. Geert Versnick, member of the IPU Executive Committee	[English] [French]
	Opening speech of the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr. Manuel António dos Santos	[English] [French]
	List of participants	[Bilingual]
	Discussion paper on agenda item 3(a) prepared by Mr. Benedict A. Martins (South Africa) PC-WTO/2008/3(a)-R.1 (25 August 2008)	[English] [French]
	Discussion paper on agenda item 3(a) prepared by Mr. Carlos Carnero González (European Parliament) PC-WTO/2008/3(a)-R.2 (26 August 2008)	[English] [French]
	Discussion paper on agenda item 3(b) prepared by Mr. Paul Rübig and Mr. Alain Lipietz (European Parliament) PC-WTO/2008/3(a)-R.1 (26 August 2008)	[English] [French]
	Discussion paper on agenda item 3(b) prepared by Ms. Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich (Thailand) PC-WTO/2008/3(a)-R.2 (21 August 2008)	[English] [French]
	Programme (updated on 12 September 2008)	[English] [French]
	Annotated provisional agenda	[English] [French]
	Additonal information on the organization of work	[English] [French]
	Invitation	[English] [French]
	Advance information letter	[English] [French]
	Practical information note	[English] [French]
	Registration form	[Bilingual]
	Hotel reservation form	[Bilingual]
	On-line booking of hotel rooms through the Geneva Tourism Office	[English] [French]
	Steering Committee of the Conference	[English] [French<]
RELATED SITES AND DOCUMENTS
	World Trade Organization (official web site)
	Committee on International Trade, European Parliament
	Geneva International Conference Centre
	Annual 2006 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
	Hong Kong session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
	Brussels session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
	Cancún session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
	Geneva 2003 session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
Note: Documents in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader

ANNOTATED AGENDA
1.	Adoption of the agenda
2.	Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators
		The annual session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO will be taking place at a juncture when the future of the Doha Round remains uncertain due to highly divergent positions of WTO members on key issues including agriculture, non-agricultural market access, and services. Participants at the parliamentary session will have an opportunity to put questions to top WTO negotiators, receive first-hand information on the latest developments in WTO talks, and exchange views on possible ways forward.
3.	Debate on substantive themes:
	(a)	Looking beyond Doha
		Under this agenda item, delegates are expected to focus, from a parliamentary perspective, on the long-term consequences of a protracted stalemate in WTO negotiations. What is the future of a WTO-centric multilateral trading system if the Doha Round fails to deliver on its development promise? Would a spaghetti-bowl of bilateral agreements replace the multilateral system? Should the rising tide of protectionism be seen as an impediment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals? Are WTO accession rules and procedures sufficiently transparent? Among other issues, delegates are invited to address the issue of effective legislative oversight of trade talks, including through the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO.
	(b)	Can international trade help mitigate climate change?
		Political leadership and public opinion have been alerted to the adverse impact of climate change on natural ecosystems, the economy and human health. The appropriate policies are yet to be put in place though, despite the known benefits of early action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and put an end to irresponsible production and consumption patterns. What kind of trade rules are required to limit climate change caused by trade-related activities? What can be done to amplify the capacity of international trade to attenuate negative environmental trends? Delegates are invited to explore these avenues, bearing in mind the need for innovative and cost-effective solutions.
4.	Panel discussions
	(a)	Defusing the threat of conflicts over food and energy through trade
		For the first time in many years, food shortages and soaring energy prices are back in the spotlight of the international media and the diplomatic arena. This interactive session will focus on the role of international trade as a means of adjusting supply and demand in a situation where countries are scrambling for markets amid fears of diminishing returns. The debate should also cover the issue of trade-distorting subsidies and tariffs, and the need to strengthen WTO rules.
	(b)	Trade in the era of digital revolution
		One of the most visible examples of the way in which information and communication technologies (ICT) contribute to economic growth is the advancement of e-business and e-commerce throughout the world, including in developing countries. Governments, parliaments, civil society and the private sector all have a vital stake in grasping the digital opportunity and putting ICT at the service of development. This interactive panel will focus on the role of parliaments in providing an enabling legal and regulatory environment for e-commerce, and on trade facilitation through relevant capacity-building measures.
5.	Guidelines for relations between governments and parliaments on international trade issues
		As a follow-up to the initial exchange of views that took place during the Hong Kong session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO in December 2005, the Conference Steering Committee elaborated the enclosed draft Guidelines on the basis of two comparative studies, undertaken by the European Parliament and the French Senate respectively. Participants at the parliamentary session will be called upon to approve the text of draft Guidelines, with a view to its subsequent circulation to all parliaments as a recommendation for action.
6.	Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
		The current set of Rules of Procedure was adopted by the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO at its session held in Brussels in November 2004. On the request of a number of delegations, the Conference Steering Committee prepared a series of amendments to the Rules of Procedure with a view to establishing a mechanism for rotating the Steering Committee seats among different national parliaments. In accordance with Article 8 of the current Rules, the participants at the parliamentary session will be called upon to approve the proposed amendments, it being understood that the Steering Committee has already established a timeframe for phasing in the regional rotation and drawn up a list of geographical regions for the purpose of rotation.
7.	Adoption of the outcome document
		At the end of the session, the participants will be invited to consider and adopt an outcome document, the draft of which will be prepared by the Conference Steering Committee.

Updated on 12 September 2008
PROGRAMME
WEDNESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER
10:00 - 19:00	Registration of participants (IPU Headquarters)
17:30 - 20:00	Pre-Conference session of the Steering Committee (in camera meeting, IPU Headquarters)
THURSDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER
08:00 - 18:30	Registration of participants
09:30 - 10:00	Inaugural session
10:00 - 10:15	Adoption of the agenda and other organizational issues
10:15 - 11:30	Debate on substantive themes
Substantive theme (a)	Looking beyond Doha
	Rapporteurs Mr. Carlos Carnero González, Member of the European Parliament Mr. Benedict A. Martins, MP (South Africa)
	Discussants Mr. Stuart Harbinson, Senior Adviser to the UNCTAD Secretary-General Ms. Billie A. Miller, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (Barbados) Ms. Cristiana Muscardini, Member of the European Parliament
11:30 - 13:00	Hearing with the WTO Director-General, Mr. Pascal Lamy
13:00 - 14:30	Lunch break
14:30 - 16:30	Interactive panel discussion
	Defusing the threat of conflicts over food and energy through trade
	Panelists Senator Luis Alberto Heber (Uruguay) Mr. Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on the right to food, United Nations Ms. Esperanza Duran, Executive Director, Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation Mr. Maximo Torero, Director, Division of Markets, Trade and Institutions, International Food Policy Research Institute (USA)
16:30 - 19:00	Continuation and end of the debate on substantive theme (a), followed by
Substantive theme (b)	Can international trade help mitigate climate change?
	Rapporteurs Senator Pikulkeaw Krairiksch (Thailand) Mr. Alain Lipietz and Mr. Paul Rübig, Members of the European Parliament
	Discussant Ms. Vesile Kulacoglu, Director of the Trade and Environment Division, WTO Secretariat
19:00	Reception
20:00 - 22:00	Steering Committee (in camera meeting, IPU Headquarters)
FRIDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER
08:00 - 17:00	Registration of participants
09:30 - 10:30	Continuation of the debate on substantive theme (b)
10:30 - 12:00	Interactive panel discussion
	Dialogue with senior WTO negotiators
	Panelists Ambassador Crawford Falconer (New Zealand), Chairperson of the WTO Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture Ambassador Fernando de Mateo y Venturini (Mexico), Chairperson of the WTO Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services
12:00 - 13:00	Continuation and end of the debate on substantive theme (b)
13:00 - 14:30	Lunch break
14:30 - 16:30	Interactive panel discussion
	Trade in the era of digital revolution
	Panelists Ms. Martine Julsaint-Kidane, Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy Branch, Division on International Trade in Goods and Services and Commodities, UNCTAD Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary General, European Satellite Operators Association Mr. Fredrik Erixon, Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy
16:30 - 16:45	Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
	followed by
	Guidelines for relations between governments and parliaments on international trade issues
16:45 - 17:00	Closing session
	Adoption of the outcome document

STEERING COMMITTEE

The Steering Committee of the Conference is currently composed of representatives of the following parliaments and international organizations: Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kenya, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States of America, Commonwealth Parliamentary Assocition, European Parliament, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, World Trade Organization.

SESSION PHOTOS