Lisbon – The 2nd Parliamentary Assembly of the Portuguese Speaking Community closed Wednesday in Lisbon, Portugal, having recommended the reinforcement of cooperation in the protection of the community’s citizens rights.

 
The MPs took the commitment to identify the juridical instruments in force and seek to improve the circulation of people and citizenship within the CPLP region, and complete the process of approval by the member states governments, the Framework Convention draft on Circulation and Citizenship.  

 
The participants thus appealed to the members to ratify the accords on circulation approved at the level of Cabinet Council.

 
The plenary session also recommended the promotion of Portuguese language in all member countries, with a view to its international expansion and effective use within the international organisations, particularly the UN system.

 
The reinforcement of diplomatic cooperation within the community, aimed at a major concert of CPLP interest with the international organisations has also been considered for the affirmation of the organisation.

 
On the other hand, the CPLP parliamentarians admitted the existence of rotation  of power within the member states which, according to them, contributes to the consolidation of democracy, an essential requirement for the promotion of peace, gender equality and good governance.

 
They also spoke of the need for promotion of parliamentary cooperation, towards the intensification of exchange among MPs and parliamentary officials and defence and harmonisation of member state’s legislations, starting with those on which a consensus has been achieved.

 
The meeting also agreed on the need for a major organisation of the CPLP Parliamentary Assembly, taking into account its objectives.

 
The participants also agreed on the creation of three specialised standing commissions. They are the commissions on “Policy, strategy, legislation, citizenship and circulation”, “Economy, environment and cooperation” and “Language, education, science and culture”.

 
The meeting that went from March 8-10, has discussed such topics as the challenges and horizons of the CPLP Portuguese presidency, the CPLP and the international political and economic situation and the CPLP, the Portuguese Language and the new Orthographic Accord and the role of the International Institute of Portuguese Language.

 
The agenda of the meeting included the presentation of the reports on the activity of the Community’s Women Parliamentarians in the period between April 2009 and March 2010, as well as the Network of the Community.

 
The meeting has as well approved the programme of activities for 2010/2011.

The CPLP groups Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape Verde, Brazil, Portugal and East Timor.