Foreign delegations and to accept them, observation stages. Ozoda Kenjayeva

Chapter I. General information and importance of foreign delegations 1.1. General information about foreign delegations

• In this way, delegations serve as Parliament's primary link to other legislatures, at home and abroad.
• Working in cooperation with Parliament's committees and with MEPs supporting democracy and human rights beyond the EU's borders, delegations lend force to the positions the European Parliament adopts.
• By exercising parliamentary diplomacy through regular discussions, delegations also promote the EU in general and encourage their partners to uphold the EU's values and interests.
• Interparliamentary meetings
• Delegations organise interparliamentary meetings with elected representatives from outside the EU. This gives our partners the chance to discuss issues face to face.

• These meetings are generally held once or twice a year and last for a few hours or days.
• They take place in alternating venues: for one meeting, MEPs will travel to another parliament outside the EU; and for the next, the EU delegation will host its guests in the European Parliament.
• When MEPs travel outside the EU for these meetings, they also try to meet with people away from the host parliament and visit EU-funded projects.
• Discussions in Brussels and Strasbourg
• Delegations also hold meetings in Brussels and Strasbourg, alone or with other delegations or committees.

1.2. Importance of foreign delegations

• Western International will work with Departments or Faculties hosting international visitors. Depending on the nature of the visit, either the Department or Western International will take the lead on planning and logistics. The following steps should be taken, regardless of the lead organizer. Western International can provide advice and consultation as needed.
• Checklist for International Visiting Delegations
• Western International is notified of all visitors in order to log the information and to assist in determining whether the request will be met or not, by considering the Classification Criteria as outlined in the Hosting Visitors page.
• Where a request is accepted, Western International or the Responsive Department will contact the head or organizer of the delegation to have the International Delegations Visit Request form completed.

• Western International or Responsive Department determines the content of the visit program, including contacting appropriate staff / faculty for meetings, coordinating the schedule and making all logistical / technical arrangements.
• Western International or Responsive Department forwards a copy of the final visit program to the head or organizer of the visiting delegation, including instructions / maps / parking information and other details to aid the delegation when they arrive at the university. A university cell phone or emergency number should also be provided to the delegation lead, in the event of last-minute changes, delays, etc.
• For every visiting delegation, Western International or Responsive Department ensures that:
• Welcome Greeting / Sign is posted in a prominent location for the delegation’s arrival at the university.

• Visit Agenda (finalized) is provided to each member of the delegation upon arrival / during first meeting.
• General University information packages are prepared and provided, including added information about specialty areas of interest (where possible). Protocol or promotional items may also be provided.
• Flag of Visiting Delegation country is displayed in front of IGAB (and Alumni Circle, depending on delegation country and visitor rank), as a welcoming and respectful gesture to the visitors.
• A picture is taken of the visiting delegation with a senior administrator at picturesque place on campus, as appropriate to the delegation / visit agenda.