H.E. Ambassador Dr Lansana GBERIE

European Union

17 ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON

392.   Thank you Chair, I regret that you did not mention the European Union as your supporter because we tried to support you as much as we could, but we really wanted to express our sincere gratitude for your outstanding leadership and contributions during your time as the Chair of this Council. We think that your dedication, professionalism, and expertise have been invaluable to the success of this Council and to the success of MC12 in the first place. Your ability to guide discussions, keep the parties engaged and facilitate constructive dialogue have been really remarkable and your patience, tact and diplomacy have helped us navigate through difficult issues and achieve important compromises in particular on the TRIPS waiver discussion. So, I think you set a very high standard for future Chairs, that is clear for the EU and on behalf of the EU again we would like to thank you for your service to this Council and wish you all the best in your future endeavours. 393.   We would, of course, like to take the opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Pitfield on her appointment as the Chair of this Council. The EU is eager to work with you and to support you in the same manner as we supported Ambassador Gberie and we wish you all the best in your new role.

80. The Council so agreed.

78. The Chair turned to the last agenda item, namely "election of the Chairperson".
79. He noted that the rules of procedure provided that "[t]he election shall take place at the first meeting of the year and shall take effect at the end of the meeting", and that "[t]he Chairperson […] shall hold office until the end of the first meeting of the following year". He recalled that, at its meeting on 6-7 March 2023, the General Council had noted consensus on the Chairpersons for regular and negotiating WTO bodies. On the basis of the understanding reached by the General Council, he proposed that the Council for TRIPS elect H.E. Mrs Pimchanok Pitfield, Ambassador of Thailand, as its chairperson for the coming year.
80. The Council so agreed.
81. The representatives of Thailand; the European Union; Bangladesh; Nepal; the United Kingdom; Tanzania, on behalf of the African Group; Japan; the United States of America; Indonesia; Cambodia; Canada; Kenya; Egypt; Korea, Republic of; Brazil and the Secretariat took the floor.
82. The Chair thanked delegations for their trust and cooperation during his term as TRIPS Council Chair during the past year and expressed his hope that they would also support the efforts of his successor in addressing the items on the Council's agenda. He wished delegations and the new Chair much success in that endeavour.
83. The meeting was closed.

__________

IP/C/M/107, IP/C/M/107/Add.1