The 3rd Meeting of the Council of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) was held in Monaco, on the IHO premises, from 15 to 18 October 2019. The Republic of Croatia participated in the meeting represented by its delegates from the Hydrographic Institute: Vinka Kolić, director, and Željko Bradarić, assistant director for international and EU affairs. The International Hydrographic Organization is an intergovernmental technical and consultative organization which through its activities contributes towards coordinated action of hydrographic offices, primarily aiming to support the safety of navigation by providing high-quality official navigation charts and publications as well as urgent navigation information. Croatia is a full member of the IHO, and for its continued work and contribution has been recognized as a proactive member within the hydrographic community.
The Council is the main operational body of the IHO, which during the inter-Assembly period implements the Assembly decisions, coordinates the IHO activities within the framework of three work programmes and two committees, analyses the implementation of strategic goals and brings forward proposals for consideration by the Assembly and the IHO member states.
The 3rd Meeting of the IHO Council, according to the agenda, addressed regular issues in compliance with the Council rules of procedures. It focused particularly on two issues that are currently most important for the Organization, namely adoption of the revised IHO Strategic Plan for the period until 2026, and adoption of the implementation plan of S-100 standard series with emphasis on the standard S-101, which refers to a new generation of electronic navigation charts. Both proposals will be the subject of discussion and decision at the 2nd meeting of the IHO Assembly in April 2020.
Croatia, recognizing the importance of these issues for the work of the IHO, besides providing general support by submitting preparatory documents for the meeting, contributed additionally with comments and proposals on all major official proposals during the Council sessions.
Besides its active participation in the Council meetings, Croatian delegation organized and participated in several aside meetings, discussing different organizational, technical, administrative and financial issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Closing the 3rd Meeting of the Council, the mandate of the current members of the Council, the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Council, has ended. In accordance with the rules of procedure, the election of new Council members, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Council shall follow. In informal talks, recognizing Croatia's contribution to the work of the IHO Council and other IHO organs and bodies, it was proposed that Croatia apply for full membership of the Council.
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