Decision-making in the WTO: medieval or up-to-date? WTO Public Forum, Geneva, 26 September 2006

1
Decision-making in the WTO medieval or
up-to-date?WTO Public Forum, Geneva, 26
September 2006

• Introductory comments
• Manfred Elsig
• HEI/WTI

2
Objectives

• Assessment of the current system of
  decision-making
• Address institutional reform related to
  decision-making
• Bridge academic, diplomatic and NGO debates

3
The WTO as a (legitimate) political systemSome
Key Concepts
Accountability
Participation
Efficiency
Transparency
Input Legitimacy
Output Legitimacy
4
What means Decision-making

• Decision-Making in a wider sense (Systemic
  Issues)
• Access to the system (Participation)
• Output/Public Good (Efficiency)
• Acceptance (Legitimacy)
• WTO-Jargon (Transparency)
• Influence/power (Realpolitik)
• Decision-Making in a narrow sense (Decision
  Rules)
• Formal/Informal
• QMV/Consensus
• Single Package / Variable Geometry
• Negotiation Modalities/Formulas
• Ministerials
• From G1 to G149 (decision fora and coalitions)
• The Role of the Secretariat

5
Decision-making in the WTO medieval or
up-to-date?

• Thanks for your attention!