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Parliamentarians Due to their constitutional role, parliamentarians play an important part in the multilateral trading system and the WTO. Any deal resulting from intergovernmental negotiations at the WTO will, in most cases, need approval from legislators. |
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Background back to top
The first gathering of legislators from WTO members took place in December
1999 on the margins of the 3rd WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle. This
gathering agreed on the need for parliamentarians to be more closely
associated with the work of the WTO and called for the establishment of a
Standing Body of Parliamentarians whereby Members of Parliaments (MPs) could
exchange views, be informed and monitor WTO negotiations and activities. Formal meetings back to top The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliament (EP) regularly hold Parliamentary Conferences on the WTO, which usually include a briefing from the Director-General.
The Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference meets twice a year in
Geneva. The Committee consists of around 30 parliamentarians. The
Director-General regularly briefs the Committee on the status of the Doha
Round of negotiations. Outreach back to top
Through its Information and External Relations Division, the WTO maintains
regular dialogue with parliamentarians and organizes workshops, in
partnership with parliamentary organizations, to encourage dialogue. These
workshops are often organized at a regional level. Links back to top
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contact us : World Trade Organization, rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland
WORKSHOPS
FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS
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