The Commission noted the Executive Secretary?s Report and agreed to include this report as a standing agenda item for future IWC meetings.
The Commission decided to refer the Rules of Procedure on quorum to the WGOE for further consideration in the next intersessional period with two options to be presented to IWC70 before the adoption of other decisions.
The Acting Chair explained that, under his interpretation of the existing Rules of Procedure, a quorum would be established at the start of each 90-minute session and would then be taken as standing for the duration of that session, so that, if there were a majority of members present at the start of the session, a decision could be taken at that session. The Acting Chair would inform the members in advance of sessions at which decisions would be made.
The Commission decided that, not having reached consensus among the options proposed by the WGOE, the existing Rules of Procedure B.1 and E will remain for IWC69.
The Commission decided that, should consensus not be reached to change the Rules of Procedure on quorum, the existing Rules of Procedure will remain for the purpose of IWC69.
The Commission agreed to leave all Resolutions and Schedule Amendments open for decisions to be taken in a single session later in the week, to be announced.
The Acting Chair ruled that evidence of financial contributions transferred to the Commission, but which have not yet cleared the Commission?s bank account, is sufficient to restore voting rights for the purpose of IWC69.
The Acting Chair ruled that Rule of Procedure F.5(f), which refers to payment plans for Contracting Governments in arrears for three years or more, can be applied for IWC69 to three Contracting Governments with two years of arrears which have paid most of their arrears but still have a small amount to pay related to interest, exchange rates and such matters. Once payment plans are signed, voting rights can be restored.
The Acting Chair ruled that Rule of Procedure F.5(e) will not apply for the duration of IWC69, so that Contracting Governments in arrears for three years or more would be able to participate in IWC69 without paying the fees of Non-Member Government Observers, recognising that they do not have voting rights.
