CCP advances 28 proposals for 31st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of CPLP
DILI, 18 August 2026 (TATOLI) – The Permanent Consultative Committee (CCP) of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) has completed its review of 28 documents to be submitted to the organisation’s 31st Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers, underway in Dili until August 19.
Among the issues to be referred to ministers is a proposal on whether to retain or change the rotation system for appointing the director of the International Institute of Portuguese Language (IILP).
Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to the CPLP, Natália Carrascalão, disclosed the information following the 294th Ordinary Meeting of the CCP, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Dili.
She said the 28 documents had been prepared and discussed in advance by the Ministerial Working Groups (GT-MIN), which examined each item in detail before submitting them to the CCP.
“We have reached this stage with 28 documents for approval. It was all prepared previously in Portugal, with the Executive Secretariat and, certainly, with the support of Timor-Leste’s presidency,” Carrascalão said.
She said the GT-MIN, coordinated by Timor-Leste’s representative to the CPLP, Aviano Faria, held intensive discussions to review the documents point by point and build consensus ahead of their consideration by the CCP.
Carrascalão said the 28 documents had already been cleared for submission to the Council of Ministers, while the proposal concerning the IILP director still required ministerial consideration.
Timor-Leste supports maintaining the current rotation system until all member states that have not yet held the CPLP presidency have completed their turn, after which the organisation would move to a public competitive recruitment system as stipulated in its statutes, she said.
“We want the rotation system to end with Equatorial Guinea. Three countries have yet to hold the presidency: São Tomé and Príncipe, which is proposed to assume it now, followed by Timor-Leste and, finally, Equatorial Guinea. From then on, the statutes provide for a public competitive process,” she said.
The 28 documents cover a range of issues, including the CPLP budget, staff recruitment, mobility, natural disasters, youth, food security and oceans.
The CCP is also considering draft resolutions honouring individuals regarded as having made significant contributions to the Portuguese language and the Timorese cause. They include former Timor-Leste President Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, Jesuit priest João Felgueiras and Portuguese singer Luís Represas.
The documents also include preparations for activities marking the CPLP’s 30th anniversary.
Carrascalão said the anniversary programme would include technical and training initiatives alongside commemorative activities.
Following approval of the resolutions by the Council of Ministers, Timor-Leste’s mission to the CPLP in Lisbon will be responsible for monitoring and supporting their implementation, she added.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosário
Editor: Isaura Lemos de Deus
Translation: Filomeno Martins
