FNC holds first procedural session, re-elects observers

The Federal National Council, FNC, renewed today its pledge to exert greater efforts to serve the nation out of its desire and determination to meet the expectations of the wise leadership and people, said Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the FNC, at the opening of the house's first procedural session of the 3rd ordinary session of its 16th legislative chapter, at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

The session included the re-election of two observers and the formation of the FNC’s permanent committees.

In her speech at the start of the session, Dr. Al Qubaisi said, "Today, and with blessing of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, our Council was honoured by the launch of the 3rd ordinary session of the 16th legislative chapter by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. We congratulate you all for this special event, where we renewed our pledge and promised to exert greater efforts and giving in the service of our precious nation, which enhanced our desire and determination to meet the expectations of our wise leadership and people in taking our responsibilities. It is fortunate that the launch of the 3rd ordinary session of the FNC coincided with the formation of the new cabinet."

"Our nation’s journey is witnessing a new era and wider horizons with promising aspirations and ambitions, and we confirm that the tasks and responsibilities that await us require us to invest all our energies in serving our country. We know you have done this, and we have witnessed your continuous and renewed giving at the FNC, and we trust that you will spare no efforts in serving our people and achieving the ambitions and vision of our wise leadership while completing what we have started, to adopt the FNC’s 2016-2021 parliamentary strategy," she added.

Dr. Al Qubaisi expressed that she was certain the FNC will continue the nation’s journey of accomplishments, which will require ongoing work during parliamentary breaks, to honour its commitments and its national responsibilities, whether on a committee level to complete draft laws and general topics enlisted on the Council’s agenda, or the ongoing parliamentary activities of the Parliamentary Group, the latest of which is the FNC’s participation in the meetings of the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU.

She said that the delegation from the Parliamentary Group succeeded in achieving the FNC’s vision in international humanitarian aid action, reflected in the IPU's passing of the UAE emergency request to consider the plight of Rohingya refugees, which reflects the point of view of the FNC regarding this horrifying humanitarian tragedy that threatens international security and peace.

"We also gave a speech where we expressed our country’s position on regional and international topics and crises, and we focused on these with regards to the UAE’s opinions in dealing with regional and international issues. We also held important bilateral meetings with several speakers of parliaments from friendly countries, and the Parliamentary Group’s delegation also participated in the meetings of the IPU’s standing committees and the meetings of the 'Assembly of Secretaries-General of Parliaments'," she continued.

According to the work schedule of the session, the FNC members elected Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Mehrezi and Salem Abdullah Al Shamsi as the FNC’s moderators according to Clause 84 of the Constitution, which reads as follows, "The Council shall have an official body that shall have a head and first deputy and second deputy, as well as two observers chosen by the Council from among its members, and the head and his two deputies shall hold office until the end of the Council’s tenure or until its dissolution, according to the provisions of the second paragraph of Clause 88, while the tenure of the moderators will end when new moderators are selected at the beginning of the next ordinary annual session, and if any position in the office body becomes vacant, the Council shall choose the candidate to occupy it for the remaining period."

The FNC formed its permanent committees which are: Constitutional, Legislative Affairs and Appeals; Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs; Financial, Economic and Industrial Affairs; Technical Affairs, Energy and Mineral Resources; Education, Culture, Youth, Sports and Media Affairs; Health and Environment Affairs; Social Affairs, Labour, Population and Human Resources; and Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Public Utilities; as well as the Complaints Committee.

It examined the international agreements and treaties signed by the government which are: Federal Decree No. 48 of 2017 to confirm an agreement of cooperation in the security field and combat terrorism between the country’s government and the government of Morocco; Federal Decree No. 49 of 2017 to confirm an agreement of cooperation in the field of security and terrorism between the country’s government and the government of Bangladesh; Federal Decree No. 50 of 2017 to confirm an agreement between the UAE and Bangladesh on transporting convicts; Federal Decree No. 51 of 2017 to confirm an agreement for air transport services between the country’s government and the government of Denmark; and Federal Decree No. 52 of 2017 to confirm an agreement between the country’s government and the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines regarding air services between their regions and beyond.

The FNC also viewed three messages issued to the government regarding the request for approval to discuss the policy of the Ministry of Justice regarding training and judicial studies, and regarding the FNC’s recommendations on the policy of the Ministry of Education, as well as a follow-up on the FNC’s recommendation regarding general topics and providing the Council with its draft general budget for 2018.