2003-2004 Workplan

Institutional

1. ICN Support Corp.
   
   Members of the ICN endorsed the creation of the ICN Support Corporation at the last Annual Conference. Following incorporation by the Canadian Competition Bureau, OFWG will develop draft by-laws to recommend to the Steering Group. When operational, the ICN Support Corp. will receive and disburse funds in support of ICN activities. The OFWG will also consider areas beyond those currently authorized which might benefit from ICN Support Corporation funding.
   
2. Administrative Duties in support of the ICN
   
   The group will discuss ways of ensuring continuity in the operations of the ICN administrative duties, examining, among other things, the tasks that should be performed, what items could be parsed out to other agencies in order to share the burden as well as those that should not be parsed out. Recommendations on possible changes to the Operational Framework may be made to the Steering Group.
   
3. Guidelines for Conference Hosts
   
   The OFWG will discuss this issue and make recommendations to the Steering Group as necessary.
   
4. Role and responsibilities of Vice-Chairs.
   
   The group will develop draft Operational Framework language concerning Vice-Chairs of the Steering Group, their roles and responsibilities
   
5. Funding
   
   The OFWG will study and develop recommendations for the Steering Group on potential sources of funding for the ICN, including the feasibility and ramifications concerning a voluntary membership fee and/or Annual Conference fee. This will involve the development of a questionnaire on sources of acceptable funding, asking members to describe their general guidelines on funding or participation in events sponsored by private or public organizations. Other organizations similar to the ICN will be also studied in order to identify best practices and their applicability to the ICN. A report will be drafted and presented to the Steering Group, together with possible recommendations.

Notional Budget

The OFWG, in co-operation with the Funding Working Group, will develop a notional budget for travel and other such expenses associated with annual conferences. This reflects the fact that a number of members need funding to travel to Annual Conferences. Having a notional budget will have the advantage of enabling the ICN to do longer term planning of its needs and will facilitate the work of the ICN Funding Working Group to seek multi-year commitments from potential donors. The OFWG will also seek to identify guidelines concerning such requests and then treatment by the Network.

Members

ICN members from these jurisdictions are on the OFWG, which is jointly chaired by the Italian Competition Authority and the Canadian Competition Bureau:

Germany, Japan, South Africa, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Kenya, EU, Pakistan, France (DGCCRF), Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Cyprus, US (DOJ & FTC), Belgium (Competition Council), UK (Competition Commission) and Romania. A representative of the World Bank is also a member.

Workplan Timelines

Date	Event
September 16, 2003	First conference call. Discuss proposed Workplan: (1) institutional issues; (2) funding activities; (3) notional budget; (4) guidelines for conference hosts; and, (5) issue of roles and responsibilities of Vice-Chair.
September 30, 2003	Conference call - Preliminary brainstorming on options, delegation of responsibilities for further research/drafting. Submission of final draft Workplan to Steering Group for review and approval.
October 15, 2003	Steering Group reviews and approves Workplan (Paris)
November 17, 2003	Conference call
December 3, 2003	SG meeting
Week of December 15, 2003	Conference call
January 7, 2004	SG meeting
Week of January 26, 2004	Conference call
February 9,2004	SG meeting
Week of February 23, 2004	Conference call
Week of March 1, 2004	Working Group to finalize projects and submit final Report* to the Steering Group for consideration.
March 10, 2004	Steering Group review and approval of OFWG work. Circulation of recommendations to ICN Members.
April 14, 2004	SG meeting
April 21-22, 2004	ICN Conference in Seoul, Korea

* Interim reports may also be submitted prior to this as distinct elements of the Workplan are completed.