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Document: WSIS-05/TUNIS/ADM/2-E Date: 10 October 2005 Original: English
Note by the Executive Secretariat
Annotated Agenda of the tunis phase of the WoRLD Summit on the Information Society (TUNIS, 16-18 November 2005)

The Tunis Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will open at the "Parc des expositions du Kram" (Kram PalExpo) in Tunis on Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 8h30 with an Organizational Meeting.

Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure of the WSIS (WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/2) provides that the Summit shall elect a President from among the representatives of participating States. Rule 7 further provides that the Summit may also elect other officers, as it deems necessary, for the performance of its functions. It is proposed to elect a separate President of the Organizational Meeting.

The draft Agenda of the Tunis Phase of the WSIS (WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/1) was adopted at the second session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) on 25 February 2005. It is proposed that the Summit adopt the agenda of the Tunis Phase of the Summit as recommended by the PrepCom.

In February 2005, the second session of the PrepCom decided to recommend to the Summit to amend Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure of the WSIS so that the number of Vice-Presidents of the Summit can be increased to 30 (WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/2). It is proposed that the Summit adopt the amendment to the Rules of Procedure as recommended by the PrepCom.

Under amended rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure of the WSIS ( WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/2), the Summit shall elect, in addition to the President, 30 Vice-Presidents, one of whom shall serve as Rapporteur, as well as two ex-officio Vice-Presidents nominated by the host countries of the Summit. Those officers shall be elected on the basis of ensuring the representative character of the Bureau. The Summit may also elect such other officers, as it deems necessary, for the performance of its functions.

In February 2005, the second session of the PrepCom adopted the proposed Format of the Tunis phase of the WSIS (WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/3), which provides that the Summit be composed of an organizational meeting, 8 plenary meetings, round tables and a high-level panel. It is proposed that the Summit adopt the Format of the Summit as recommended by the PrepCom.

1. Appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee
   Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the WSIS (WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/2) provides that a Credentials Committee consisting of nine members shall be appointed at the opening of the Summit and that its composition shall be based on that of the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations at the time of the respective phase of the Summit. In case a current member of the Committee of the General Assembly does not participate in the WSIS, it is proposed that said member be replaced by a State from the same region.
    
2. Report of the Credentials Committee
   In accordance with Rule 5 of the Rules of Procedure of the WSIS (WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/2), the Credentials Committee shall examine the credentials of the delegations of the States and of the European Community. It is proposed that the Credentials Committee report to the Summit during the eighth Plenary on the afternoon of Friday 18 November.

The Summit will hear the Report of the Preparatory Committee.

The Plenary meetings on Wednesday 16 November, Thursday 17 November and Friday 18 November will hear statements by heads of delegations. Statements by representatives of States will be limited to 5 minutes. The last fifteen minutes of general debate of the first plenary meeting, the last half hour of general debate of the second, third, fifth and sixth plenary meetings and the last hour of general debate of the fourth and seventh plenary meetings will be set aside for statements from representatives of organizations and entities attending the Summit as observers. During the time reserved for observers, speaking time will be limited to 3 minutes per observer.

Round tables and a high-level panel will take place during the Summit, in parallel with plenary meetings. Based on the decision of the second session of Preparatory Committee on the proposed format of the Summit, the Secretary-General of the Summit identified, in consultation with the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee and the Regional groups, that two round table sessions be held on the theme "From Commitment to Action: Implementation after Tunis", and that a High-level Panel be held on the theme "ICT for Development".

The last 15 minutes of the fifth plenary meeting and approximately one hour of the eighth plenary meeting, upon completion of the general debate, shall hear reports from some Multi-stakeholder Events that have been held in conjunction with the Summit.

At the eighth Plenary meeting on the afternoon of 18 November, it is proposed that the Summit adopt the final documents.

At the eighth Plenary meeting on the afternoon of 18 November 2005, , it is proposed that the Summit adopt a report on its activities, a draft of which will be prepared by the Rapporteur and presented to the Summit for its approval.

The Summit will hear closing remarks by the Heads of State of the two host countries and the Secretary-General of the Summit.