Discussions on how to reform the Universal Postal Union continued at a special forum on Monday, held on the side lines of the Council of Administration (CA), currently taking place in Berne, Switzerland.
Delegates were broadly in agreement that the UPU would need to undergo structural reforms to enable swifter decision-making in the face of market and social forces.
For his part, the UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein underlined the impact of external forces on the postal sector. “We all appreciate the changes that have taken place in our industry and how much this has affected our business,” he said.
“Our traditional product lines can no longer be relied upon to sustain our businesses, let a lot earn profit,” he added.
On the topic of UPU reform, he said: “Members and partners have been asking for the reform of the Union to address challenges brought about by the changes in the industry. That is why we have sustained the subject of reforms in all our fora over the years,” he said.
“As the elected official in charge of the International Bureau (IB), I am convinced of the need for change, so as to bring about more efficiency in the working of the Union and its organs,” he emphasized.
The forum on November 2 was organized by the IB’s Directorate of Regulatory and Economic Affairs. The IB is the Union’s secretariat.
Outside view
To provide food for thought to member countries, the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) deputy secretary-general, Malcolm Johnson, gave a presentation on the structure of this Geneva-based agency.
“The ITU has remained relevant because of its willingness to reform itself,” Johnson said.
The ITU’s council may consist of 48 elected member countries but external participation is strong as the organization has 700 members from the private sector.
These, in turn, can join sectorial study groups, which make recommendations on standards to the member countries for implementation.
Discussions continue
Member-country deliberations on the potential shape and form of the reforms, which may be on the cards, as well as their timing, will continue during the CA, in particular under the aegis of the CA’s Reform of the Union Project Group under Committee 1.
The CA 2015 runs from November 2-13. Some 1,000 delegates are expected to attend.