Appendix 1

FIPA//EC/2007/DEC.1/e

Declaration to be presented at the 37^th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States

June 3-5 in Panama City, Panama

Adopted by the FIPA Executive Committee on June 1, 2007, in Brasilia, Brazil

CONSIDERING:

That the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) is an independent network composed of the national legislatures of the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose purpose is to promote parliamentary participation in the inter-American system and to contribute to inter-parliamentary dialogue in dealing with issues on the hemispheric agenda, pursuant to Resolution 1673/99 of the OAS General Assembly.

FIPA’s objective to “contribute to the process of integration as one of the most appropriate instruments for sustainable and harmonious development in the hemisphere”;

That Heads of State and Government of the Americas decided, in the Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas, to “Encourage cooperation and exchange of experiences and parliamentary best practices between national legislators of the Hemisphere, while respecting the separation and balance of powers, through bilateral, subregional and hemispheric vehicles such as the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA)”; 

The contribution made by FIPA since 2001 in advancing the hemispheric agenda, described in the report “From Quebec city to Mar del Plata: Progress by the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas”, presented to Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Americas at the Fourth Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, on November 3, 2005, and to the OAS Permanent Council in Washington DC on April 12, 2006;

The importance that, in addressing the issue of “Energy for Sustainable Development”, the central theme of the 37^th Session of the OAS General Assembly, the voice of parliamentarians be taken into account;

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

1.    FORWARDS the recommendations adopted by the Plenary Assembly of FIPA on November 21, 2006, on the issues of Trade and Integration, Poverty Reduction, the Fight against Drug Trafficking, Gender Equality and Cultural Diversity to the OAS General Assembly and, in particular, its recommendation stating that “Policies that favour energy integration should be created, taking into account the challenges related to non-renewable resources and the opportunities offered by renewable resources such as bio-energy, wind energy and other sources”.

2.    CALLS for OAS member governments to consider national parliaments as front-line actors in the oversight and implementation of commitments that stem from the General Assembly Declaration on “Energy for Sustainable Development,” as a means of ensuring that regional commitments in this area be translated into national legislation and policies that respond to the needs of the citizens they represent.

3.    ASKS that the OAS General Assembly take note of the recommendation of the FIPA Executive Committee that representatives of member parliaments seek means through which legislators can contribute to the implementation of a regional energy agenda that fosters the harmonious and sustainable development of the hemisphere, during the Sixth FIPA Plenary Meeting.

4.    CALLS for a strengthening of the collaboration between national parliaments and the OAS, through the establishment of two-way direct communication between FIPA and the OAS, the provision of parliamentary input to regional negotiations and debates when appropriate, and through the attribution of a special status that would allow FIPA to participate as an observer in meetings of the Organization.

5.    CALLS for a formal recognition of the contribution made by national parliaments to the Summits of the Americas process and EXPRESSES its intention to submit to the Summits Implementation Review Group (SIRG) a proposal for FIPA to be recognized as a special parliamentary observer in this process.