16/10/2026 European Conference of Presidents of Parliament
Transparency, integrity and ethics were at the centre of a meeting of Secretaries General of Parliament from across Europe today at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, taking place during the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments in Rome.
Opening the event, PACE Secretary General Despina Chatzivassiliou noted that public trust lay at the heart of any democratic institution, and called for clear rules on political financing, lobbying, conflicts of interest and ethical conduct – including the explicit prohibition of sexism, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct.
“Integrity is about more than having rules in place. It is also about creating a culture in which high standards are understood, shared and consistently applied,” she pointed out, referring to the mechanism recently adopted by PACE, enhancing the rules for fighting against conflicts of interest and providing for sanctions in case of violation.
Fabrizio Castaldi, Secretary General of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, pointed out that transparency and integrity were essential for building trust between citizens and representative institutions: “Trust is built day after day, through the quality of the information we provide, the clarity of our rules, the verifiability of our sources, and the responsibility with which we use new technology.”
Federico Silvio Toniato, Secretary General of the Senate of the Italian Republic, noted the widespread distrust which many parliaments now face. He underlined the importance of the evaluation of public policies as a benchmark for the credibility of parliamentary institutions. He urged parliaments to make the purpose and effects of what they do visible once again, focusing on integrity and impartiality and encouraging parliamentary officials to serve with “discipline and honour”.
During the discussion, topics covered included the value of codes of conduct, the need for accurate data and clear documentation, the impact of AI and the benefits of involving young people in parliamentary work, as well as the need for training and awareness-raising.
Secretaries General from around 45 Council of Europe member, observer and partner countries, as well as from International Parliamentary Assemblies, attended the meeting.
