Results of the 2005 Assemblies of WIPO Member States
Delegations from WIPO's 183 Member States met in Geneva from September 26 to October 5 to review the activities of the past year and to agree on the agenda for the coming year. The General Assembly was chaired by Ambassador Enrique Manalo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, who described the results as "a rich harvest."
Decisions taken by Member States during the meetings included the following.
Member States approved by consensus the proposed 2006-2007 program and budget presented by WIPO Director General Kamil Idris, amounting to 531 million Swiss Francs (SFr). After four consecutive biennia of budgeted deficits, the program and budget introduced a policy based on budgetary balance, achieved without any increase in the fees levied on the services provided by WIPO. Key features include no deficit, no surplus, reserves at the level set by Member States, and efficiency gains in various areas. Mr. Idris informed delegates that, following the measures taken to redress the Organization's financial situation, the 2004-2005 biennium will close with expenditure matching income.
Member States commended the Director General and the management of WIPO for having restored the financial situation within less than a year without compromising the strategic objectives of the Organization. They welcomed the program and budget for 2006-2007 as a major shift in WIPO's budgetary policy. The budget provides for a SFr 2 million increase in resources for cooperation with developing countries, taking the budgeted amount to SFr 73.7 million.
Member States supported a proposal for WIPO to take out a bank loan to fund the construction of a revised project for a new administrative building. They also approved the establishment of a WIPO Audit Committee and a WIPO Internal Audit Charter to enhance the internal oversight function.
The General Assembly decided that two additional meetings of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) would be scheduled to accelerate discussions on the second revised consolidated text (SSCR/12/2REV.2) and on the Working Paper (SCCR/12/5 Prov) regarding a proposed treaty on the protection of broadcasters. The resolution states that "these meetings shall aim to agree and finalize a Basic Proposal for a treaty on the protection of the rights of broadcasting organizations in order to enable the 2006 General Assembly to recommend the convening of a Diplomatic Conference in December 2006 or at an appropriate date in 2007." (A diplomatic conference is convened when negotiators feel that the time is ripe for the adoption of a treaty.)
"This is a very positive development. Member States have established a clear process to address this issue in readiness for a diplomatic conference," said WIPO Deputy Director General Rita Hayes.
Member States decided to establish a provisional committee in order to accelerate and complete discussions on proposals relating to a WIPO development agenda. This committee will build on the results of the three...
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