European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments May 30-31, 2006 Tallinn, Estonia

ECPRD - Programme and Priorities

2006 - 2007

Contents

      1.       ECPRD Priorities 2006 - 2007

2.       Programme of seminars and meetings

      2.1.       ECPRD Programme 2006

      2.2.       ECPRD Draft Programme 2007

1.       ECPRD Priorities 2006 – 2007

      According to the new ECPRD Statutes, its main objective is to promote the exchange of information, ideas, experience and good practice among the administrations of parliaments in Europe. The ECPRD network provides a unique forum for making requests and receiving answers about comparative issues of concern to parliaments and their members throughout Europe. All correspondents should try to contribute to this joint effort to exchange information among national parliaments, since this is in a way the very core of the ECPRD’s raison d’être. An active input by all parliaments and services concerned is essential for the Centre to be able to carry out its functions. Taking the statutory objectives into account, the ECPRD priorities for the years 2006 – 2007 could be defined as follows:

1. To develop further the exchange of information via the procedure of comparative requests:

- to simplify the guidelines on studies and comparative questions adopted in January 2004 taking into account the experience of the last two years;

- to encourage better responsiveness to requests;

- to increase substantially the number of comparative summary reports produced by the requesting chambers;

- to assure a timely publication of replies and summary reports on the ECPRD website.

2. To consider areas which might require continuity of activity with a view to the possible nomination of co-ordinators (Article 9.3 of the new Statutes). These areas might include the following, but this is not an inclusive list:

- parliamentary research services, including macroeconomic research (where there is a coordinator currently);

- information and communication technologies in parliaments (where there is a coordinator currently);

- parliamentary libraries and archives;

- parliamentary procedure and practice.

3. To continue to organise seminars for parliamentary staff on subjects of common interest on the basis of proposals coming from national parliaments.

4. To develop further the ECPRD website in order for it to become a truly thriving platform on which parliamentary information (on legislation, studies, administration, ICT, best practice, etc.) can be easily found and used.

5. To improve the level of involvement of the ECPRD correspondents and their deputies in the Centre’s activities.

6. To enlarge the correspondents’ network by having correspondents nominated for the Monaco and Serbia and Montenegro parliaments.

7. To co-operate with other networks dealing with the exchange of parliamentary information (e.g. IPEX, EUROVOC) with a view to avoiding duplication of activities.

2.       Programme of seminars and meetings

      Several seminars will be organised in the years 2006 – 2007. The detailed list of seminars can be found below. The Executive Committee will meet in Strasbourg on 7 September 2006 and subsequently in March and in September 2007 (Brussels). The Conference of Correspondents will meet twice: in London in October 2006 and in Yerevan in October 2007.

      2.1.       ECPRD Programme 2006

2.2.       ECPRD Draft Programme 2007