Publish What You Pay 

Email Update February 7th 2011

 
   

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President Sarkozy calls for European oil and mining transparency rules

In a letter published on the Elysée website, President Sarkozy has publicly come out in favour of new European rules requiring oil, gas and mining companies to disclose the payments they make to governments around the world. President Sarkozy stated: 'I have decided to ask the EU to adopt, as speedily as possible, legislation to compel industries in the extractive sector to disclose their payments to all countries in which they operate.'

Sarkozy's statement was in response to an open letter by ONE campaign co-founder Bono, urging Sarkozy - who this year has the presidency of the G8 and the G20 - to translate his 'transformational words' on development into 'transformational actions.' One of the opportunities Bono highlighted was the push for transparency in the extractive sector, reminding Sarkozy that the US passed historic legislation last July requiring listed companies to publish what they pay.

The Publish What You Pay network applauds President Sarkozy for becoming the first European Head of State to go on record in favour of European legislation obliging companies to publish what they pay.
 

Sarkozy

 

Président Sarkozy appelle à une législation européenne pour la transparence dans le secteur extractif



Dans une lettre publiée sur le site de l'Elysée, le Président Sarkozy s'est publiquement engagé en faveur de nouvelles règles européennes exigeant que les compagnies minières, de gaz et de pétrole divulguent leurs paiments dans le monde entier. Le Président Sarkozy a déclaré : 'J'ai décidé de demander à l'Union européenne d'adopter au plus vite une législation imposant aux entreprises du secteur extractif de publier ce qu'elles paient aux pays où elles sont installées'.

Le Président Sarkozy - qui a cette année la présidence du G20 et du G8 - répondait à Bono, co-fondateur de ONE, qui dans une lettre ouverte l'exhortait à traduire son 'discours réformateur' en de 'réelles réformes'. Bono a surligné le mouvement pour la transparence dans le secteur extractif comme occasion, rappelant au président que les Etats Unis avaient adopté le juillet dernier une législation historique exigeant aux compagnies de publier ce qu'elles paient.

Le réseau Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez félicite le Président Sarkozy d'être devenu le premier dirigeant européen a s'être déclaré officiellement en faveur d'une législation européenne imposant aux compagnies de publier ce qu'elles paient. Le réseau Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez soutien la démarche de Bono en encourageant le Président Sarkozy à transformer ces mots en action.

 

Roundtable:"Harmonizing Canada-US Disclosure"

In an effort to build on the momentum created by the Dodd-Frank Act, and universalize emerging best practice in the extractive industries, Publish What You Pay-Canada (PWYP-Canada) and the Revenue Watch Institute, in partnership with the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) at the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto , hosted a roundtable discussion entitled Harmonizing Canada-US Disclosure Requirements in the Extractive Industries.

The meeting brought together business, regulators, civil scoiety and academia to discuss the potential impact of the US legislation on the Canadian regulatory regime and Canadian companies, as well as the best way forward for Canada as a major global player in the extractive industries and as a country committed to transparency and accountability. The discussion demonstrated broad support from the majority of participants, and was the first step in what is expected to be an on-going discussion with relevant Canadian stakeholders on how to improve revenue transparency in Canada and eliminate the use of conflict minerals. 

 



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Berlin: ONE Germany event on transparency



On 25 January 2011, the ONE campaign organised a high-level panel event to discuss the critical issue of bringing about greater transparency in the extractive industries. The aims of the event were to expose members of the German public to the critical issue of transparency in the energy sector (Germany does not have any major extractive companies but is one of the world's largest importers of raw materials) and also to consider the need for European regulation similar to the Dodd-Frank transparency provision. The event was a success with State Secretary Pfaffenbach from the Ministry of Economy and Technology speaking positively about the importance of transparency and Peter Eigen, Chair of the EITI board, voicing his approval of the Dodd-Frank extractive industry transparency provision saying he hoped "that Germany and other countries in Europe and Europe as a supranational organisation will introduce similar rules of regulation." Dr. Bright Okogu, General Secretary of the Nigerian Budget office echoed this sentiment and called on the European Union and other jurisdictions to adopt similar rules, and called for greater work to be done on tracking expenditure.

For more information click here (part I) and here (part II), and for an overview and video of the event itself click here
 



 

EITI Global Conference information for civil society on our site


We are providing information for civil society participants attending the EITI Global Conference on our site, including announcements, logistics, media, civil society meetings and executive sessions. We will be updating this page continually up to and during the Global Conference.

Having PWYP members from all over the world gathered in one place is a great opportunity for our global network, so we are organising events at a PWYP post-conference day on 4 March 2011. For those who can attend, this is a chance to share information and connect with other members of the network. Events include:

 

  • An introduction to new civil society board members. We will also have the honour of the participation of the new EITI Chair-elect Clare Short at this meeting
  • Planning session for the PWYP Africa Regional meeting
  • Question and Answer session with PWYP USA on the Dodd-Frank rulemaking process
  • Regional follow up meeting for the Central Asia and Caucasus network
For further information and contact details, please visit: www.publishwhatyoupay.org/eitiparis



Ougadougou, Burkina Faso: Regional EITI Workshop


Civil society representatives from thirteen francophone countries metburkinafaso on 26-28 January 2011 for a regional workshop on EITI implementation. The participants shared their various national experiences with EITI implementation to date, discussed challenges, agreed upon goals to overcome obstacles to successful EITI implementation (including the revision of EITI rules and analysis and dissemination of EITI reports) and made a number of recommendations. The workshop was supported by Publish What You Pay and the Revenue Watch Institute.

To read the declaration, please click here (and here to read it in French)

 



PCQVP vivement préoccupé par les menaces à l'encontre de membres de PCQVP au Congo


Le réseau international de Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez (PCQVP)  est vivement préocuppée par les menaces de mort dont font l'objet Me Georges Kapiamba, vice-président national de l'Association Africaine de Défense des Droits de l'Homme (ASADHO) et Me Jean Claude Katende, président national de l'ASADHO et Président de la Coalition Nationale Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez dans en République Démocratique du Congo. Lire la suite...

 




European Commission references country by country reporting in an official EC Communication


eu_flagOn 2 February 2011 the European Commission launched plans to secure access to essential raw materials for the EU in a Communication entitled: Tackling the challenges in commodity markets and on raw materials

Within the Communication and referring to the Africa-EU Joint Strategy 2011-2013, the Communication proposes to "promote more disclosure of financial information for the extractive industry including the possible adoption of a country by country reporting requirement" and refers to both Dodd-Frank and the work being undertaken by the International Accounting Standards Board on extractive activities. Civil society is still analysing this document and has concerns about development policy coherence in terms of the whole text. However, the Communication is significant because a possible country by country reporting requirement for the extractive industries and indeed Dodd-Frank are now referenced in an official EC Communication.
 



 

Global Witness criticizes delays to the UK's Bribery Act and calls for payment disclosure as critical to curbing corruption


In a Times article criticizing further delays to the UK's new anti-bribery act, Global Witness campaigns director Gavin Hayman also noted that payment transprency was essential to tackling corruption. Dr Hayman said:

"Let us remember, also, that bribery by companies is only one aspect of corruption, which can also be fuelled by failure to disclose payments made governments for natural resources.

The coalition Government has created a strong national transparency agenda. Transparency is at the heart of the other necessary step to tackle corruption: a law requiring disclosure of payments made to foreign governments by extractive companies, to mirror the recent US legislation and create a better business environment in many of the world's most fragile countries."

 


 

Job Opps

 

Publish What You Pay Uganda is looking for a Coordinator

Under the direct supervision of the Executive Committee (EC), the Coordinator is responsible for the implementation of PWYP-U's mandate and for the scope of activities developed within this mandate. 

Roles and Responsibilities will include among others:

 

  • Ensuring PWYP-U Representation at national, regional and international level

  • Developing a national intervention strategy and support its implementation

  • Developing and implementing the operational strategy

  • Overseeing reporting procedures as may be necessary

  • More generally, communicate systematically to the EC and stakeholders regarding the development of the country strategy and its implementation

To find out more, please click here 


Senior Legal Advisor Global Witness

Global Witness has worked consistently to build responsible and skilled campaigners. It has now grown to a size where in-house legal support is required. The aim of the post will be to continue to build excellence and help strengthen Global Witness campaigns based on a solid understanding of legal requirements, particularly in defamation and privacy law, in the UK and internationally. The post will report to a Global Witness Director.

Application deadline: February 11th 2011

Location: London 

For more information please click here