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Safeguarding democracy a key theme as Speakers of Parliament from across Europe gather for Strasbourg summit

21/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Speakers and presidents of parliament from the 46 member states of the Council of Europe and many partner, observer and neighbouring countries, as well as the heads of several interparliamentary assemblies, gathered in Strasbourg on 20 and 21 March 2025 for a major European parliamentary summit...

European parliamentary summit: 'Unity and solidarity are the strongest defense against intents to undermine...

21/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

“Our unity and solidarity are the strongest defense against malign foreign and domestic forces intent on undermining democracy and peace”, today said the PACE President, Theodoros Rousopoulos, presenting the conclusions of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament. “The Conference looks...

European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Lorenzo Fontana: 'Parliamentary Assemblies must reaffirm the value of democratic confrontation and counter...

21/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Speaking today at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments in Strasbourg, Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, spoke of the worrying phenomenon of violence against politicians “which has a serious impact on civil coexistence and the very resilience of...

European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

'Being a Member of Parliament is one of the riskiest professions,' the Speaker of the House of Commons says

21/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

“It is shocking and heart breaking to think that being a Member of Parliament, representing a constituency’s interests, is one of the riskiest professions in the country”, today Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons said today addressing the European Conference of Speakers of...

European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Despina Chatzivassiliou: 'Enhancing the efficiency of parliamentary information through AI has become one...

21/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

“Enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of parliamentary information through AI has become one of our strategic priorities. With nearly seven years of practical experience, we have directly observed both the considerable benefits and significant considerations inherent in the deployment of AI...

Serbian flag

PACE monitoring co-rapporteurs express concern about the escalation of tensions in Serbia

20/03/2025 | Monitoring

PACE’s Rapporteurs for the monitoring of Serbia, Axel Schäfer (Germany, SOC) and Victoria Tiblom (Sweden, ECPA), have today made the following statement concerning the massive protest in Belgrade of 15 March 2025: "We are very concerned about the escalation of tensions in the country, which led...

European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Yaël Braun-Pivet: ‘The Presidents of Assemblies bear a historic responsibility, that of being the bulwarks...

20/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

“In the face of our democracies being targeted, our rule of law threatened, our fundamental values violently challenged, we Presidents of Assemblies bear an historic responsibility, that of being the bulwarks of our rule of law against of the perils that threaten them,” Yaël Braun-Pivet...

European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Ukraine’s Speaker urges continued support: ‘We will never stop defending democracy’

20/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Addressing the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, appealed for unwavering support in Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression. “No matter how hard it gets, no matter what we face, we will never stop. We will not stop fighting...

Working breakfast of Women Presidents of Parliament on “Women, Peace and Security”

In Strasbourg, women Speakers discuss progress towards parity and the role of women in peace-building

20/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Women Speakers and Presidents of Parliament met this morning for a working breakfast on the margins of the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Strasbourg to share national experiences on progress towards parity and the role of women in enhancing peace and security. Some 18 Speakers...

European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Pedro Rollán: 'Defending freedom of expression means defending our democracies and freedoms'

20/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

“Freedom of expression is one of the main pillars on which our democracies and the future of our societies are based. Without freedom of expression, there may be something else, but not full democracies. Therefore, it is essential to protect it with all the means at our disposal”, today said...

International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination

How the horror of Sharpeville lit a beacon of hope: marking the 60th anniversary of the International...

20/03/2025 | Equality and Non-Discrimination

Francesco Verducci (Italy, SOC), General Rapporteur on combating racism and intolerance made the following statement on the occasion of the International day for the elimination of racial discrimination (21 March): On this International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial...

European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Kidawa-Błońska: 'Freedom of speech is the foundation of our European identity'

20/03/2025 | European Conference of Presidents of Parliament

Addressing the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament today in Strasbourg, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Senate of Poland, called on European leaders to stand firmly in defense of freedom of expression. “We must actively fight for it,” she urged, warning that this fundamental...