Khalifa calls for new policy-making ideas

Abu Dhabi: The new Federal National Council is to convene on Monday, according to a decree issued yesterday by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Addressing the new members of the 40-seat house, Shaikh Khalifa urged the authority to present new ideas to develop the policy-making process and improve the performance of government and judicial bodies, WAM reported.

"These ideas would also reinforce security and justice, improve the level of transparency, accountability and integrity, and promote the rights and freedoms," he said.

Citizen's aspirations

"You are entrusted by the citizens to represent them and to reflect their aspirations and needs," he told the new members.

Yesterday's federal decree comes two days after the full list of FNC members was released, in another federal decree, including the 20 members elected in mid-December, along with the other half of the council which was nominated by the Rulers of the emirates.

It also comes on the heels of the country's first elections which took place in December to elect half of the FNC members. They were part of a reform plan, initiated by the President to give the FNC more powers.

Bigger role

Shaikh Khalifa yesterday said he would soon announce new steps to enhance the role of the federal house as a legislative authority that supports and guides the executive and judicial branches.

"This will be done within the context of the supremacy of the law and the integration of roles and responsibilities among various institutions of the state," he said.

"The new legislative chapter is a culmination of the achievements made over the past 35 years, notably in maintaining our federation and realising national goals that were set by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the founding fathers," he said.