Future Directions of the APC

At the 7th Plenary in Halong Bay, Vietnam, APC participants agreed that the APC should develop a more practical focus. An Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) was established to consider the future directions of the APC and to make recommendations to the 8th Plenary. The APC Coordinator circulated a draft paper on APC future directions and consulted widely with APC participants. A meeting of the OEWG was convened in Brisbane, Australia on 24 October 2003 to consider the future directions of the APC and make recommendations to the 8th Plenary.

After consideration of the report of the OEWG, the 8th Plenary convened in Sydney, Australia on 8-9 December 2003, adopted the approach to the future directions of the APC as follows:

  1. APC’s Underlying Principles: The Plenary agreed that the APC’s Underlying Principles of informality, non binding decisions, government ownership, flexibility and active dialogue be maintained, reflecting the responsibilities and interests which governments have in the issues covered by the APC.

The Plenary adopted an additional principle that participation in the APC is voluntary and open to all governments in the Asia Pacific region.

  1. Future Role of the APC: The Plenary agreed that the APC take opportunities to undertake more practical and outcome focussed activities to supplement its existing consultative emphasis, consistent with its underlying principles.
  1. Scope (Priorities) of the APC: The Plenary agreed that in determining its annual program of activities, the Plenary retains the core focus on refugees, displaced persons and migrants. While laying due emphasis on the original areas of concern, the Plenary would also consider adding to the program of work additional areas where:

·  consideration by, and activities of, the APC can add value to understanding of the issues; and

·  the Plenary is satisfied that additional areas of work do not substitute for core activities, are complementary to, and do not duplicate activities in other fora and are within the capacity of the APC to manage.

At each Plenary meeting a menu of possible activities should be put to the participants for their consideration.

  1. Meetings: Bearing in mind the sovereignty of participating governments, the Plenary agreed that the appropriate level of representation at the Plenary should be sufficiently senior officials for the purposes of the APC.

The Plenary also noted the value of keeping Ministers fully advised of deliberations in the APC.

The Plenary also agreed that Sub-regional meetings consider having a thematic focus that contributes to the broad program set by the Plenary.