20/03/2025 European Conference of Presidents of Parliament
“We live in an era where financial influence dictates many political decisions. We recently witnessed an inauguration ceremony where billionaires seated in the front row, while government ministers were placed behind them. Instead of serving the interests of the few powerful elites, we serve the millions of citizens who have entrusted us with their votes”, the PACE President said today at the opening of European Conference of Presidents of Parliament, in Strasbourg.
“We have to trust our roots and principles. Democracy may be old, but not old fashioned. The question is not to make Europe great again. Europe was and still remains great because of its principles and values that are timeless and attractive globaly. And this is the historical moment to be again a role model for the rest of the world”, the PACE President added.
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, gather in Strasbourg today and tomorrow for a major European parliamentary summit.
More than 60 Speakers or Deputy Speakers and around 400 delegates participate in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament, which is held every two years under the auspices of the Strasbourg-based Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first conference.
The themes of the conference are ‘Safeguarding democracy’, ‘Guaranteeing freedom of expression in times of polarisation and uncertainty’ and ‘Violence against politicians’.