Universal Postal Union Convention

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

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demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
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A decision made on 5 May 2021

Decision Reference: MD-E-2021-0016
Decision Summary Title :	Universal Postal Union Convention	Date of Decision Summary:	13th April 2021
Decision Summary author	Director of Partnership	Decision Summary: Public or exempt?	Public
Type of report: Oral or Written?	Written	Person giving Oral Report:	n/a
Written Report title :	Universal Postal Union Convention	Date of Written Report:	16th April 2021
Written Report author	Director of Partnership	Written Report: Public or exempt?	Public
Subject: Ninth and Tenth Additional Protocols to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union Convention.
Decision: The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture has instructed officers to arrange for the Ninth and Tenth Additional Protocols to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union Convention to be extended to Jersey.
Reasons for Decision: As the UK and the Crown Dependencies (CDs) and Overseas Territories (OTs) agreed to the amendments during the two Congresses, the effect of the Protocols is already in force. However, the UK Government is now taking the necessary steps to formally ratify the amendments within the Protocols. As part of the ratification process, the UK must ensure that Jersey, and the other CDs and OTs are aware of, and accept, the extension of the amendments within the Ninth and Tenth Additional Protocols.
Resource Implications: There are no financial or manpower resource implications.
Action required: Officers are to arrange for the Ninth and Tenth Additional Protocols to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union Convention to be extended to Jersey.
Signature: Senator Lyndon Farnham		Position: Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture
Date signed: 05.05.2021		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed)

Universal Postal Union Convention

Economic Development,

Tourism, Sport & Culture

Written report: Universal Postal Union Convention

Ninth and Tenth Additional Protocols to the Constitution – Extension to Jersey

Date: Friday 16 April 2021

Author: Darren Scott

Summary

The major acts of Congress are the Universal Postal Convention, setting out the basic rules for governing the exchange of documents and parcels among post offices, and the Constitution and General Regulations, which establish and organize the Universal Postal Union (UPU) itself.

The Constitution is the basic Act of the Union. It contains the organic rules of the Union and is not subject to reservations and can only be changed by Congress, which is a quadrennial meeting of delegates from all UPU member countries and is the supreme decision-making body of the UPU.

The Constitution is binding on UPU member governments and has to be ratified formally by each member state to confer that they agree with the Constitution and Additional Protocols and can comply with them. This is what the UK government are now looking to do. The Acts were updated during the last two Congresses – Istanbul Congress (2016) which was the ninth additional protocol to the acts and the Addis Ababa Congress (2018) that provided the tenth protocol.

There were a number changes made by both the Istanbul and Addis Ababa Congresses, which are summarised below:

Ninth Additional Protocol - 2016 Istanbul Congress changes:

Changes to add postal items and that the scope of these are regulated by the acts of the Union. Confirming this Additional Protocol shall come into operation on 1 January 2018 and shall remain in force for an indefinite period.
Changes to the composition on the Consultative Committee to include high level postal figures and civil society organisations registered in a union member country
Changes in the timescales for submitting proposals and that documents will only be physically distributed on request

Tenth Additional Protocol – 2018 Addis Ababa Congress

Clarification restricted Unions may send observers to Congresses, to the Council of Administration, to the Postal Operations Council, and to other conferences and meetings organized by the Union and that Members of the Postal Operations Council shall carry out their functions in the name and in the interests of the Union. Protocol shall come into operation on 1 July 2019 and shall remain in force for an indefinite period.
Function of Congress to elect the member countries to sit on the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council, in accordance with, inter alia, the electoral procedures laid down in the Congress resolutions pertaining to this matter
The CA shall define, formalize and/or set up the standing groups and task forces or other bodies to be established within its structure, with due regard being paid to the Union’s strategy and business plan adopted by Congress.

Allows the CA to create or abolishes International Bureau posts financed by the regular budget
Determination of the rules for the organisation of CA sessions, and in particular that the Chairman and four Vice-Chairmen shall be member countries from each of the five geographical groups of the Union.
The Council of Administration shall meet twice a year, or additionally on an exceptional basis, at Union headquarters, in accordance with the relevant procedures set forth in its Rules of Procedure.
Changes to the structure of the POC from 40 to 48 members and re-election processes
Giving the POC authority to define, formalize and/or set up the standing groups, task forces, user-funded subsidiary bodies or other bodies to be established within its structure, with due regard being paid to the Union’s strategy and business plan adopted by Congress.
Establishment of a Coordination Committee for the Permanent Bodies of the Union
Small changes to the contribution charges to union members, including a class of 0.1 units for least developed countries

As the UK and the Crown Dependencies (CDs) and Overseas Territories (OTs) agreed to the amendments during the two Congresses, the effect of the Protocols is already in force. However, the UK Government is now taking the necessary steps to formally ratify the amendments within the Protocols. As part of the ratification process, the UK must ensure that Jersey, and the other CDs and OTs are aware of, and accept, the extension of the amendments within the Ninth and Tenth Additional Protocols.

The Attorney General has confirmed that the Island is compliant with the requirements of the UPU Additional Protocols and that extension of the Amendments may be formally requested by the Government of Jersey.