The President of the European Parliament, Mr Martin Schulz, will visit Parliament on Tuesday to hold bilateral talks with National Assembly (NA) Speaker, Mr Max Sisulu, and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu, on strengthening existing cooperation between the Parliaments.
One area of collaboration, which dates from 1997, is the capacity building programme for Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures. In April this year, 225 legislators (26 of them from Parliament) graduated at the University of the Witwatersrand from phase two of this three-phase programme.
In addition to this capacity building programme, our partnership with the EU is assisting us in finalising a Public Participation Framework for our Legislative Sector.
Besides his bilateral with Mr Sisulu and Mr Mahlangu, Mr Schulz will also address the annual South Africa-European Union (EU) International Consultative Seminar, This year the annual seminar focuses on the role of Parliaments and the Legislatures in economic development and transformation.
Mr Mahlangu will chair the opening session of the seminar on Tuesday, Mr Sisulu will deliver the opening address and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will deliver the keynote speech.
Also on Tuesday, Minister in the Presidency: National Planning Commission, Mr Trevor Manuel, and ambassador and head of the EU Delegation to South Africa, Mr Roeland van de Geer will speak on perspectives on the role of Parliaments and the Legislatures in long-term, sustainable economic growth and development.
On Wednesday, the increasing importance of Parliaments in fiscal management and the determination of relevant oversight mechanisms will be explored.
Our Parliament is currently in the process of appointing a director for the Parliamentary Budget Office. The Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act of 2009 (Act No.9 0f 2009) provides for a procedure to amend money bills before Parliament, including the national budget.
Section 15 of the Act also establishes the Parliamentary Budget Office, which has the mandate to provide independent, objective and professional advice and analysis to Parliament on matters related to the budget and other money bills.
Also coming under scrutiny on Wednesday are current oversight mechanisms of Parliaments and Legislatures over economic policies and programmes.
Media opportunities are outlined below
Media opportunities
Tuesday, 14 May
- 09h00, NCOP building entrance – arrival of European Parliament delegation and signing of distinguished visitors’ book in Queen’s Hall of NCOP building
- 09h10, V8 on ground floor of Old Assembly building – start of bilateral meeting
- 10h00 - seminar Good Hope Chamber (Please arrive early to facilitate access)
Wednesday, 15 May
- 09h30 - seminar continues in Good Hope Chamber
Media, who do not have Parliamentary media access permits, who wish to make use of the media opportunities listed above should contact the media management unit by 14.00 on Monday, 13 May 2013.
The following details should be supplied:
- Full name
- ID/passport number
- Name of media organisation and media group
- Designation (writer, photographer, for example)
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Mobile phone number
These details may be sent to the following media management unit officials:
Modise Kabeli
Cell: 082 077 4682
E-mail: mkabeli@parliament.gov.za
Nolizwi Magwagwa
Cell: 083 313 1323
E-mail: nmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za
Mlindi Mpindi
Cell: 073 197 1315
E-mail: mmpindi@parliament.gov.za
