FNC holds 2nd Parliamentary Consultative Forum on executive framework

The Federal National Council, FNC, headed by Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the FNC, yesterday held its 2nd Parliamentary Consultative Forum at the InterContinental Dubai Hotel.

The Forum discussed the executive framework of the FNC’s strategic plan for 2016-2021 that will enable it practice its constitutional functions and develop its working mechanisms according to its parliamentary strategy, which is its institutional and methodical framework for performing its legislative and monitoring roles while maintaining parliamentary diplomacy, to promote its efforts in developing and advancing the country.

During the Forum, which was attended by FNC members along with Ahmed Shabib Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the FNC, directors of departments and the staff of its secretariat, there was a discussion about developing the tools of parliamentary work and advancing the work of FNC committees, as well as on future foresight, investing in innovation and soft power, and supporting the government’s developmental efforts.

A brainstorming session was also held to discuss the efforts, energies and the expertise of the members of the FNC and its general secretariat, which saw the exchange creative and innovative ideas.

The participants stressed the importance of improving the FNC’s parliamentary diplomacy, to strengthen the UAE’s international stature and present it as a model to be followed in international parliamentary events. They also highlighted the importance of supporting the UAE’s foreign policy, hosting international conferences on parliamentary affairs, and promoting the country’s ongoing efforts to improve its parliamentary relations, as well as the influence of international reports on parliamentary diplomacy, and improving the performance of parliamentary friendship committees.

"Today, we begin a new phase in the journey of our parliamentary work, as we meet to discuss several topics on developing our parliamentary work. We have prioritised this goal at the start of the FNC’s 16th legislative chapter, and we will launch its 3rd ordinary session next month, on which we will place great hopes in achieving progress in the development of the mechanisms of parliamentary work, based on our parliamentary strategy, as a commitment to our pledge to prioritise the interests of our precious country," Dr. Al Qubaisi said.

She noted that the FNC’s strategic plan aims to keep pace with rapid global developments in the performance of legislative institutions, and to respond to future challenges that will require everyone to work hard to overcome them, based on sophisticated plans, clear scientific vision and joint mechanisms and work programmes, which are in line with our country’s approach, to encourage planning, creativity, excellence and innovation in various areas.

While formulating its projects and initiatives, Al Qubaisi also stressed that the FNC’s strategic plan aims to achieve the total realisation of its vision and messages. "We have all agreed that our futuristic vision will result in an effective national council that can realise the aspirations of the people of the federation, and our messages will present to them, through the council’s legislative and monitoring roles and its role in parliamentary diplomacy, an authority that is supportive and guided by the country’s executive authority. This will enhance the political participation of local citizens, who are armed with the values of the nation and their citizenship, representing the country’s unity, participation, transparency, independence and credibility," she added.

"We have endeavoured, through the adopted strategic plan, to create an intricate map of parliamentary performance, guided by our parliamentary expertise and the best international parliamentary practices, and based on an intellectual vision from a speech on political empowerment by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005, and from the UAE Vision 2021 and the UAE Centennial 2071, as well as the country’s general policy and the aspirations and ambitions of the its wise leadership and people," she further added.

Al Qubaisi stated that the strategic plan will provide parliamentarians with qualitative mechanisms to monitor its execution with precision and thoroughness, through periodic performance reports on the execution of its projects and the adoption of its operational plans.

Al Dhaheri then explained the FNC’s six strategic goals - establishing national unity and good citizenship, strengthening the legislative system according to the best international standards, promoting the FNC’s monitoring role to achieve the UAE Vision 2021, supporting the UAE’s foreign policy through the leading role of parliamentary diplomacy, improving social communication and participation, and developing the capabilities of the FNC’s bodies to achieve exceptional parliamentary performance.