WT/GC/W/781  
 
3 October 2019  
(19-6390) Page: 1/2 
General Council  
15-16 October 2019  Original: English  
 
PROPOSAL ON EXPANDIN G THE SCOPE AND MAND ATE OF THE GENEVA WE EK  
FOR SMALL STATES DEL EGATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM SAINT LUCIA, SOLOMON  ISLANDS  AND VANUATU  
The following communication, dated 3 October 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands  and Vanuatu.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  This week the WTO is hosting the 39th edition of the "Geneva Week ", a week -long event for 
Member States who do no t have a Permanent Delegation established in Geneva. The purpose of this 
initiative is to give an overview of the current work and activities taking place within this organization 
and provide participants with an update on the most recent developments on t he different subject 
areas of the WTO, as well an assessment of the state of play of the main negotiating portfolios.  
1.2.  The program me is comprehensive and tries to cover all the key areas of work of the WTO, 
allowing participants to get a closer look at the  main issues in the current agenda and bring in their 
perspectives and raise questions. Perhaps most importantly, though, the exercise allows them to 
see in person the functioning and modus operandi of the WTO, and such exposure, even if for such 
a brief p eriod of time, can greatly contribute to enhance their understanding of the multilateral 
trading system. This is a crucial step to equip small Members to better articulate, project and defend 
their interests in the WTO, particularly at a time where the iss ues are increasingly complex and the 
systemic pressures on the system add to the challenges of participating meaningfully in these 
processes.  
1.3.  This program me also provides an excellent opportunity for building bridges and networking 
avenues for the particip ating officials, the Secretariat and the membership as a whole. They have 
the chance to engage in bilateral meetings and participate in formal WTO meetings in situ . It is seen 
as a useful initiative and valuable knowledge -sharing exercise, regularly receiv ing positive feedback 
from participants, and an invaluable opportunity for WTO Members who are resource -constrained.  
1.4.  However, as it currently stands, only Members who currently don 't have an established 
presence in Geneva can designate participants to thi s exercise. One cannot underestimate the 
difficulties and challenges for smaller missions to be able to follow all the international organisations 
in Geneva. Even if we narrow it down to strictly WTO -related matters, several missions have one or 
two delega tes dedicated to all issues related to trade, which means they have to constantly engage 
in strategic prioritization. It is crucial that these Members are given support and assistance in 
concrete ways for them to be more involved in WTO processes and are a ble to develop the necessary 
skills and tools to better engage in the on -going negotiations.  
1.5.  In light of these considerations, this proposal aims at expanding the mandate and scope of the 
Geneva Week and increase the eligibility requirements for participa ting Members, in line with the 
strong capacity -building objective underpinning the Geneva Week. It is our belief that this would 
greatly contribute to strengthening the presence of these smaller Missions in Geneva and improve 
the inputs provided by capital  counterparts, facilitating reporting between the Geneva -based 
delegates and capital officials.  WT/GC/W/781  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  Cognizant of the particular challenges faced by small states in engaging in the multilateral 
trading system mechanisms, due to severe resources -constr aints;  
2.2.  Acknowledging the successful contribution of the Geneva Week exercise in delivering a strong 
capacity -building activity to small states and which contributes to their greater participation in WTO -
matters;  
2.3.  Observing that participation in the Geneva Week for small states is a way to enhance their 
understanding of the different issues under discussion and the organisation 's modus operandi ; 
2.4.  Noting however that, in its current framework, only Members who do not have a Permanent 
Mission in Geneva are allo wed to designate participants to the Geneva Week ; 
2.5.  Recognizing that increasing and expanding this participation would facilitate reporting between 
Geneva -based delegates and capital officials, which could in turn improve the participation of small 
states in  multilateral processes happening in Geneva (including on current negotiations);  
Propose:  
 
To broaden the eligibility requirements for participating in the Geneva Week to allow:  
 
i. Members who recently acceded;  
ii. Members who have recently established a Permanent Mission in Geneva;  
iii. Members who have up to four (4) or less dedicated permanent delegates based in  
Geneva;  
iv. Non-resident Delegations  
To nominate at least one (1) capital -based official per session to participate in the Geneva Week 
exercise. We welcome any small state Delegation wishing to associate with our proposal.  
 
__________