FNC celebrates its 47th foundation anniversary

abu dhabi — The Federal National Council (FNC) recently celebrated the 47th anniversary of its establishment as one of the country’s constitutional authorities.

Over the last 47 years, the FNC has discussed hundreds of issues and drafted laws for the people of the UAE and the country’s economy. At the core of the council’s framework are the vision of the nation’s leadership and the aspirations of the Emiratis.

It has played a role in advancing the UAE’s humanitarian and cultural objectives, by promoting the values of tolerance, coexistence, openness and acceptance, rejecting violence, providing humanitarian aid, achieving security and stability, and communicating with the world’s parliaments and people.

It was the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who laid the foundations of the council and identified its functions. During his speech at the inauguration of the first session of the FNC’s first legislative chapter in 1972, Sheikh Zayed said: “In these critical and historic time, when your honourable council is meeting, the country and its people are confident that you will fulfil their hopes for development and prosperity.”

In 2004, since the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, assumed his constitutional power, the FNC had witnessed key milestones that have enabled it to practise its constitutional functions and discuss topics that shape the nation.

The milestones included the “reformation stage” which saw a revised method of selecting the FNC representatives of the emirates by combining the process of election and appointment.

The first elections of the council were held in December 2006.

When the FNC’s 16th legislative chapter was convened in November 2015, eight women were appointed, representing 20 per cent of the total membership. This representation of women marked another milestone not just for the council but for the rest of the country.