Since CLGE’s birth its affiliation with FIG has been obvious. CLGE is often considered the European counterpart of FIG. For the last fifty years this relationship has been very positive and friendly, however, there has been no structural cooperation. The last years have seen a strengthening of the mutual ties and we’ve asked CLGE’s President to give his views about this evolution.
By Muiris de Buitléir
GeoInformatics – M. Barbieri, what are your plans regarding cooperation between CLGE and FIG?
First of all, I would like to make clear that these are not solely my plans. I am sharing my thoughts with Chryssy Potsiou and we are progressing hand in hand. For the last five years we have been building on the huge preparations made by Henning Elmstrøm. He was very active in CLGE and FIG and this activity has sparked new ideas. My predecessor Jean-Yves Pirlot and his colleague CheeHai Teo have increased the visibility of this cooperation. Twice in succession FIG has invited CLGE presidents as keynote speakers, once in Kuala Lumpur, once in Sofia. The reverse has happened too, as we have invited Cheehai Teo on several occasions and we are working very closely with Chryssy Potsiou. For a few years now we’ve combined forces with the FIG YSN, by including its European component in our own structures. Actually, Diana Bečirević represents the FIG YSEN on the CLGE Executive Board.
Together with our American Friends from NSPS and FIG, we’ve launched the idea of a Global Surveyors Week and, last but not least, we have started discussions about the creation of a forum of leaders of regional bodies under the helm of FIG. Under my presidency we have increased the cooperation even more. As CLGE president I represent FIG, together with its vice president, Rudolf Staiger, in two very important international initiatives; the International Property Measurement Coalition and the International Land Measurement Coalition. For the moment we are planning a CLGE / FIG seminar on marine cadastres to be held on 17 March 2016 in Tirana, Albania.
As you can see, we are willing to exploit the complementarity of FIG and CLGE. This means that we want to develop mutual support rather than dependency. On this basis we would wish to go forward with the creation of the regional forum.
GeoInformatics – Tell us more about this new forum?
Over its long history, FIG has demonstrated its relevance. Our profession needs a global representation and FIG is recognised as the key institution in this regard. However, FIG’s members are national associations. The emerging regional trends are not easily taken into account. At CLGE, we think that regions could learn from each other. They could present issues, solutions and priorities and, by discussion on a global level, they could reinforce each other, helping us mutually to anticipate future developments or explore new domains. At the moment, we are discussing the creation of a council of regional bodies led by FIG. It should be noted that this council is not intended to create another layer of bureaucracy within the Federation. On the contrary, we want to reinforce, not weaken the existing institutions. The FIG is based on the sovereign power of its general assembly and has its own internal procedures to decide about policies and actions. This will not change. What the Council of Regional Bodies or Regional Forum – we haven’t decided on the name yet – could become is an advisory organ, helping the professions develop in all regions and helping FIG to be aware of regional trends
GeoInformatics – What are the concrete plans?
We hope that our first meeting can be organised in Christchurch (NZ) during the next FIG Working Week, 2 – 6 May 2016. Jean-Yves Pirlot and I will be there to represent CLGE during an inaugural meeting. Hopefully many other regional bodies such as NSPS, FGF, the Arab Federation of Surveyors, Asean Flag, RICS, UMG, etc. will join us. CLGE will present current initiatives and exchange best practices with sister organisations active in regional professional politics. I don’t want to anticipate the outcome of this event but I hope that we will be successful. If that is the case, I will report on it without delay.