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Last updated: 27 November 2003

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

The Rt Hon Bruce George MP, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe wants to be formally linked to the Association and to recommend to the Assembly and Secretary General that the IABP and its schemes become an Assembly ‘Initiative’ to assist with the OSCE’s programmes to consolidate democracy and assist business to engage with the new democracies. The list of 55 countries who send delegates to the Assembly is on the OSCE web site and includes USA, Canada and all the European countries.

All the countries which have business and Parliament  schemes, with the exception if New Zealand , have representatives to the Assembly.

Full details of the OSCE are on its web site which is www.osce.org    Click on ‘institutions’ and then on ‘Parliamentary Assembly'. The OSCE focuses on programmes which in the long term consolidate European security, so support is given to programmes to strengthen democracy, the economy, environment and human rights.

Significant Progress at Board Meeting in Brussels on 2 December 2002

Inter alia, the Board discussed preliminary results of a detailed benchmarking exercise carried out by the research department of the host organisation, VEV Belgium.  They also attended a meeting at the European Parliament to accelerate progress on the new scheme to extend training programmes offered by IABP members to senior officials of the European Parliament (see below). It is hoped to have 6 pilot schemes in place by early 2003.

International Opportunities for Company attachments

IPT Presentation at the European Parliament in Brussels on 26 June 2002. Left to Right: Julian Priestley, Secretary General Riki Hyde-Chambers, Director, IPT David Martin, MEP, UK Vice President   (Photo kindly provided by the photo-library of the European Parliament)

Proposed cooperation between the European Parliament and 
the International Association of Business and Parliament (IABP)  

Click here for a copy of this document in PDF format.

Business placements: format

●        Placements in one of the IABP member countries[1] for up to ten administrators per year from committee secretariats, and possibly from other services, who would benefit greatly by attaining both general understanding and specific knowledge of the sector they are responsible for (agriculture, finance, media, transport, legal affairs, the judiciary, etc.). The schemes could also offer officials the chance to monitor "on the ground" the impact of existing legislation.

●        Officials would spend five consecutive days with their selected enterprises[2], sufficient time to acquire a comprehensive overview of their chosen sector while at the same time compatible with the parliamentary calendar. Suggested periods: identified weeks without parliamentary (or at least committee) activity, summer recess.

●        The programmes could also feature social events over the preceding and/or following weekends, thereby adding a cultural dimension to the schemes. Where appropriate and feasible, participants could attend follow-up days later in the year to consolidate their learning or to experience different phases of the business cycle.

National parliaments

Parliament officials could also have the chance to spend an internship in national parliaments of the countries concerned, in accordance with a work programme drawn up jointly between the European Parliament and the relevant IABP member.

Preparation and implementation of programmes

Some three months in advance, future participants must clearly define what they are looking for from the scheme (specific objectives and needs, sector/subject matter, duration, etc.). On this basis, the IAPB propose a tailor-made programme and identify a suitable host enterprise. The emphasis is on "learning by doing" and, if they so wish, participants enjoy the opportunity to experience as wide a spectrum of the host company's activities as possible (from shop floor to boardroom).

Cost

No cost: travel and accommodation (mission expenses) aside, the schemes would have no financial implications.

Reciprocity

The Parliament would be expected to reciprocate by holding an annual visit of representatives from host companies (1 day in Brussels: tour of EP premises, followed by lunch with the EP participants and, possibly, a Member).

IABP members on the House of Commons Terrace following their  Board Meeting 
- June 2002 London.

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