Every two years, this conference brings together Speakers and Presidents of the parliaments of the 46 member states of the Council of Europe. Delegates from neighbouring and observer countries and other partner parliamentary assemblies also participate.
The plenary session of the 2023 conference, held in Dublin, was opened with addresses by the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
More than 60 Speakers or Deputy Speakers and around 400 delegates attended this year's ECPP.
Pre-conference | Discussion on hate speech
In advance of the opening of the plenary session a group of parliamentarians, academics and members of civil society debated hate speech and threats to violence against elected representatives.
The conference focused on three themes, each introduced with keynote addresses by three national Speakers:
· The challenges to representative democracy in volatile times
Theme 1 | Consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and role of national parliaments in Ukraine’s reconstruction
Debating the first theme, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, asked that his country be supported not just financially but with "knowledge, experience and commitment to the principles of international law".
Theme 2 | The challenges to representative democracy in volatile times
Debating the second theme, Ms Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, argued that in a time of uncertainty marked by the war in Ukraine and climate, health and migration crises, it is "important to engage in fundamental reflection on the functioning and future of our democracies".
Theme 3 | Equality and diversity in public representation
The third and final theme brought the conclusion from the conference chairs of the need to "join the dots between politics, policy and our populations", with an indication that pushing for full parity between men and women in parliaments, engaging young people in politics, building inclusive education and involving people with disabilities and other minorities were key to the objective.
ECPP 2023 @ PACE
The ECPP comes together under the auspices of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which is based in Strasbourg. Check out its website for more information on ECPP 2023 in Dublin.