111th meeting of the CIPM

The CIPM accepted the minutes of the second session of the 110th meeting of the CIPM as a true record.

The CIPM noted the decision taken by correspondence on 21 December 2021 to approve the text of seven Draft Resolutions for the CGPM at its 27th meeting in November 2022 on the following subjects:

A     On the report prepared by the International Committee for Weights and Measures on the “Evolving Needs in Metrology”
B     On the global digital transformation and the International System of Units
C     On the extension of the range of SI prefixes
D     On the use and future development of UTC
E     On the future redefinition of the second
F     On universal adherence to the Metre Convention
V     On the dotation of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures for the years 2024 to 2027.

The CIPM noted the decision taken by correspondence on 7 January 2022 to approve the amendments to Regulation 15.3 “Post vacancy of a staff member on non-active status” of the Regulations applicable to BIPM staff members. It noted that the CCE was consulted and concurred with the proposed amendment. The CIPM also noted the CCE’s proposal to amend Instructions I‐14.5.4 “Part-time work following a maternity, paternity or parental leave” and I‐14.5.5.2 “Parental leave, part-time and staff members who are spouses or partners”. The new provisions entered into force in January 2022.

The CIPM noted the decision taken by correspondence on 3 May 2022 to approve the first edition of the CIPM Code of Conduct.

The CIPM noted the decision taken by correspondence on 20 May 2022 that, considering the response to comments on the text for a draft resolution prepared by the ad hoc Working group of Member State representatives in February 2022, and in accordance with the First Article of the Metre Convention, the CIPM recalled its decision CIPM/107-06 and decided to recommend the use of the term “Headquarters” (in French “Siège”) whenever it is required (for example in formal or informal documents) to refer to the scientific and technical staff and facilities at the Pavillon de Breteuil.

The CIPM confirmed its approval of the audited financial statements of the BIPM and of the BIPM Pension and Provident Fund for 2021, which were reviewed by the CIPM Sub-Committee on Finance in May 2022.

The CIPM granted the BIPM Director quietus for the 2021 exercise.

The CIPM decided that the budget for 2023 should follow the expenditure agreed by the CGPM at its 26th meeting (2018) with an updated estimate for the revenue agreed by the CIPM Sub-Committee on Finance.

The CIPM recalled Regulation 6 annexed to the Metre Convention (paragraph 6), which states that “The supplementary sums thus paid by these States to make up the dotation of the Bureau are considered as advances made to the State in arrears and are reimbursed to them in the event that it repays its arrears of contributions” and its Decision CIPM/108-33, following which States that have previously been notified of accumulated arrears exceeding the six-year period were informed that the amounts due are those equal to the first six years of default.

The CIPM decided that supplementary sums received in respect of arrears greater than 6 years should be recognized, in all cases, as payments to the BIPM in the context of the re‐establishment of the dotation contributions required by paragraph 8 of Regulation 6 annexed to the Metre Convention.

The CIPM requested the BIPM Director to draft the accounts for 2022 to show a table for inclusion in Note 5 of the Financial Report that shows the remaining supplementary sums that would be refunded to Member States if certain States in arrears were to make good their arrears (following article 20 para 3b of the Annexed Regulations).

The CIPM accepted the following changes to the membership and observership of the Consultative Committees:

CCAUV

• SE "NDI Systema" (Ukraine) as an observer

CCL

• NIS (Egypt) as a member
• INTI (Argentina) as an observer
• NIMT (Thailand) as an observer
• NSC IM (Ukraine) as an observer

CCPR

• INMETRO (Brazil) as a member
• JV (Norway) as a member
• NSC-IM (Ukraine) as an observer

The CIPM noted the “base case” for the financial plan proposed by the CIPM Sub-Committee on Finance that takes into consideration the current economic climate and the minimum required to deliver the work plan and instructed the BIPM Director to prepare a financial plan for the period 2024-2027 based on a 1.5 % increase in the dotation each year. The CIPM asked the Director to prepare a balanced budget to reflect this amount.

The CIPM agreed on a “recommended list” of candidates for election to the CIPM and asked the CIPM Secretary to send it to the Chair of the Committee for CIPM Election (CEC), along with the complete list of candidates assessed as qualified and a package with supporting documentation of all nominated candidates as required by the CIPM Criteria and Process for Election of CIPM Members.

The CIPM unanimously decided to re-nominate Dr Martin Milton as BIPM Director and to renew his appointment for a further term from 1 January 2023. The CIPM President and CIPM Secretary were tasked to conclude the terms and conditions of the contract with Dr Milton with special emphasis on the modernization of the organization and the goals for the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention.