The Com-ITU plenary met on 5-8 July 2022 in a hybrid format in Berlin, Germany at the kind invitation of The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and the Federal Network Agency.
The plenary adopted the last set of European Common Proposals (ECPs) for the 2022 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-22, Bucharest, 26 September - 14 October 2022).
In his opening remarks at Berlin’s Com-ITU meeting, the Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, Mr. Mario Maniewicz, thanked the CEPT Members for their important role in helping ITU remain fit for purpose - an organization that can be trusted to deliver effective and efficient services for all its members. While appreciating the Romanian hosts for their efforts in hosting the PP-22, he reassured the participants that the preparations for the conference where well on track, and that the practical experience acquired during the WTSA and WTDC held earlier this year would be used to ensure a successful PP-22. He further invited the meeting to consider candidates from the region for the posts of Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Committees and Vice-Chairs of the Conference, as well as to identify a candidate for vice-chair of the Council 23 from Region B. Mr. Maniewicz ended his remarks by highlighting the importance of the regional preparations for a successful Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest.
Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin (USA) presented her candidature for ITU elected officials. Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin has a vision of the ITU that advances universal connectivity, collaborates for impact to transform delivery, and ensures the ITU excels as an institution with integrity and accountability. As the United States’ candidate to be Secretary-General of the ITU, Doreen brings over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, which includes directing the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, launching Generation Connect, creating REG4COVID to provide a database of actions to improve connectivity in response to COVID, brokering over 50 new partnerships between the ITU and key stakeholders, and implementing a results-based management platform for the ITU. Doreen wants to make the ITU into an institution that meets the world’s connectivity needs and creates digital access for all.
To honour CEPT, Greece hosted a reception to Com-ITU delegates, on 6 July at the Käfer Berlin terrace restaurant of the German Bundestag.
Greek reception at the Käfer Berlin terrace restaurant of the German Bundestag
The Secretary General of Telecommunications and Post of the Ministry of Digital Governance, Dr. Athanasios Staveris-Polykalas welcomed the guests and introduced Greece’s candidature for the ITU Council. The Secretary General denoted that as a founding member of ITU, Greece is committed to continue to support all initiatives of ITU and Greece’s re-election in Region B would be a clear engagement for the Greek government to bridge the digital divide and accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Additionally, Greece will be given the opportunity to support every new development that will deliver ITU’s objectives, share experiences and visions with Member States and strengthen cooperation with ITU, while contributing to harness the benefits offered by free and resilient modern digital technologies.
Dr. Athanasios Staveris-Polykalas, Secretary General of Telecommunications and Post of the Ministry of Digital Governance
In their remarks, the Deputy Minister of External Affairs of Greece, Mr. Miltiadis Varvitsiotis and the Greek Ambassador, Her Excellency Mrs. Mara Marinaki highlighted the importance of being a member of the ITU Council and warmly asked for the support of the Member States to Greece’s candidature during the elections at the upcoming Plenipotentiary that will be held in Bucharest.
Furthermore, a side event on “Accelerating the one digital Europe through the GovStack initiative" was organised by the ITU Office for Europe in a hybrid mode on 6 July 2022. The GovStack initiative created by Germany, Estonia, ITU, and DIAL aims to support the countries in bringing clarity and standardizing the complex journey of digital government services design. It facilitates the sharing of existing best practices and uses the design architecture based on building blocks as a tool for proving that the complex e-government infrastructure doesn’t have to be expensive to build and maintain or complicated to use for both civil servants and citizens. This information session aimed at disseminating the knowledge about the GovStack initiative and the ways it can assist countries in implementing scalable digital solutions and applications in a cost-efficient, accelerated, and integrated manner.
More details on the European preparation for PP-22 and on the other Com-ITU activities are available here.
