Report

1. Introduction   

Article 25 of the Statutes and Rules of the Inter-Parliamentary Union permits members of the IPU to form geopolitical groups. These groups play an important role in the functioning and activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

There are six geopolitical groups formally recognized by the IPU: the African Group (48 members), the Asia-Pacific Group (31 members), the Arab Group (18 members), the Eurasia Group (7 members), the Latin American Group (22 members) and the Twelve Plus Group (47 members). Each group decides on working methods that best suit its participation in the activities of the Union and informs the Secretariat of its composition, the names of its officers, and its rules of procedure.

Canada belongs to the Twelve Plus Group and the Asia-Pacific Group. Because Canada belongs to more than one geopolitical group, it submits candidatures for vacant positions within the Union through the Twelve Plus Group.

2. Background on the Twelve Plus Group    

The Twelve Plus Group was formed in 1974 (as the Nine Plus Group) by IPU members from the European Community (EC). Its purpose is to coordinate the action and policy of its member Group and, where possible, to arrive at common positions on IPU matters. The word “Plus” was intended to indicate the openness of the Group to new members of the EC as well as other like-minded nations, such as Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Today, the Group has 48 members, including Central and Eastern European countries.[1]

The Twelve Plus Group holds meetings on a regular basis during the IPU’s spring and fall Assemblies. These meetings provide a venue for the Group’s members to discuss the functioning of the Assembly and related meetings. Members also use these meetings to discuss administrative and substantive matters of consequence to the future activities of the Union.

The Chair of the Twelve Plus Group is elected for a term of office of two years. The Chair is advised by a Steering Committee of representatives from approximately seven to nine member countries and normally meets in the weeks prior to an IPU Assembly.

The Steering Committee appoints a Vice-Chair among its members by consensus.

According to the Guidelines of the Twelve Plus Group, the Steering Committee shall include: the two most recent predecessors of the current Twelve Plus Chairperson (as long as they are members of their national IPU delegation); members of the Twelve Plus Group serving on the Executive Committee; further members, invited by the Chairperson on account of their particular abilities or merits, who could benefit the activities of the Twelve Plus Group as a whole.

3. The Meeting of the Twelve Plus Steering Committee    

The Canadian parliamentarian in attendance was Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P., from the House of Commons of Canada.

The agenda for the meeting included the following items:

1. Opening remarks

2. Adoption of the agenda

3. Approval of the minutes of the 12+ Steering Committee meeting held in Porto on Monday 11 September 2017

12+ MATTERS

4. Programme of activities of the 12+ Group at the 138th Assembly in Geneva

5. Financial Matters

6. Azerbaijan – Membership 12+ Group

7. Any other business

8. Date of the next meeting of the Steering Committee

IPU MATTERS

9. Preparation of the 201st session of the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

9.1. Questions relating to IPU membership and the situation of certain parliaments

9.2. Financial questions

9.3. Amendments to the IPU Statutes and Rules

9.4. Vacancies

a) Requests for IPU membership and observer status

b) Achieving universal membership

c) Situation of certain parliaments

d) Financial results for 2017 and Financial situation of the IPU

e) Mobilization of voluntary funding

10. Preparation of the 138th Assembly

10.1. Emergency Items

10.2. Agenda of the Standing Committees

11. Preparation of the Committee Meetings

11.1. Standing Committee on Peace and International Security

11.2. Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade

11.3. Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights

11.4. Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs

11.5. Forum of Women Parliamentarians

11.6. Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the IPU

11.7. Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians

11.8. Committee on Middle East Questions

11.9. Group of Facilitators for Cyprus

11.10. Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law

11.11. Gender Partnership Group

11.12. Syrian Working Group

11.13. High-Level Advisory Group on Counter Terrorism

11.14. Preparation of other Meetings

12. Other Matters

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable David McGuinty, P.C., M.P.
President,
Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)