The Shura Council held its regular weekly meeting Monday under the chairmanship of HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al- Mahmoud.
The council discussed the report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee on Decree Law No. 18 of 2018, on amendment of some provisions the of Law on Tenders and Auctions, issued by Law No. 24 of 2015. The council approved the said decree law and decided to submit its recommendations to the Cabinet.
After discussing the report of the Cultural and Information Affairs Committee on the draft law on Media City, the council approved it and decided to submit its recommendations to the Cabinet. 
Under the draft law, the Media City has a moral personality and an independent budget aimed at managing and developing media activity and attracting international media, technology companies, research and training institutions in the fields of media and digital media. 
Its terms of reference also include granting licences for television and radio broadcasting as well as licences for the publishing and distribution of newspapers, magazines and books to eligible companies.
In its recommendations, the committee called for creating technical and professional standards and controls to attract high-quality media companies and encouraging Qatari investors to invest in the Media City. It also said care has to be taken to ensure that the Media City does not affect the rights and gains of existing investors in the media field and employing Qatari graduates and giving them priority with the appropriate privileges.
During their discussions, the members of the council stressed the importance of respecting the principles, values and ethics in the programmes of companies licensed to work in the Media City and that it be governed by a code of ethics.
After extensive discussions, the council approved the draft law and decided to submit its recommendations to the Cabinet.
Also, the Speaker of the Shura briefed the members about the outcome of his meeting last Monday with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Gabriela Cuevas Barron, where they discussed the preparations made by the council to host the 140 General Assembly of the IPU and the accompanying meetings in Doha from April 6-10, 2019. They also reviewed the cooperation relations between the Shura Council and the IPU in various areas of parliamentary work.
The IPU president has expressed her deep satisfaction with the progress made in arrangements for the meetings.
The speaker also briefed the members on the reports of its delegations participating in a number of external meetings.

Related Story