The President of the European Parliament, Mr Martin Schulz, will visit Parliament tomorrow 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 addition to this capacity building programme, our partnership with the EU is assisting us in finalising a Public Participation Framework for our Legislative Sector.
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. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will deliver the keynote speech. 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment