2024-04-23 15:12:20
European Parliament Presidents discuss common understanding on current challenges and strengthening democracy in Spain
Vienna/Palma de Mallorca (OTS) – First Vice President Othmar Karas represented the President of the European Parliament at the Conference of Speakers of Parliament of the European Union from April 21 to 23, 2024 in Mallorca, Spain.
“European liberal democracy is increasingly challenged by authoritarian tendencies – from outside and from within. The independence of the judiciary and the media is increasingly the target of attacks. We parliaments, as the heart of democracy, must decisively counter this development. We have a crucial responsibility “To strengthen a well-fortified democracy, for example in the fight once morest disinformation and election interference,” said Karas.
“Today’s adoption of conclusions underlines the ‘Charter on the Role of Parliaments in a Functioning Liberal Democracy’, which I initiated as First Vice-President of the European Parliament two years ago. The Charter is a basis for a common understanding of the core elements and basic principles of modern parliamentarism. On this basis, debates on strengthening parliamentarism should be held in the national parliaments of the EU and in the European Parliament until next year.”
The initiative to jointly advance the role of parliaments in a functioning democracy was welcomed in the conclusions of the Conference of EU Parliament Speakers under the Czech Presidency in Prague a year ago. The Léon Declaration was subsequently adopted in July 2023 at a conference organized by the Spanish EU Council Presidency on the International Day of Parliamentarism. She supported the initiative to draw up a common charter, which was now the subject of the conference in Palma de Mallorca.
National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka: “In view of numerous crises in the immediate vicinity, geopolitical changes and the associated challenges, I share the concern and believe it is necessary to protect our European democracies and parliamentarism in the best possible way. Right now it is important to consistently defend our democratic values nationally and at EU level. I would therefore like to give my full support to this issue, which is also important to me.”
Link to the official website and program
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