The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) participated in the 28th General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, held from 22 to 26 July 2021 in Georgioupoli, Chania (Greece). The event gathered high-level representatives from other parliamentary organizations, such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA), along with high representatives from the Orthodox Church.
On this occasion, the Assembly was represented by Hon. Veroljub Arsić, Head of the Serbian delegation to PAM. His contribution focused on the pivotal role played by parliamentarians in responding to the ongoing multiple challenges. In this context, all religious leaders also have significant responsibilities towards the people in facilitating a coherent and shared approach.
Recalling PAM work, the Head of the PAM Serbian delegation stressed the efforts of the Assembly to provide PAM members with scientific, proof-based, reliable data and information all along the pandemic. He likewise recalled that most economies are nowadays facing major socio-economic crises, and MPs have a crucial role in deciding how to restore their economies. On this matter, PAM’s economic panel on Trade and Investments is set to be a valuable instrument to encourage good economic governance and to recommend new orientations for a more wide-ranging, green, and sustainable Mediterranean.
Hon. Arsić further highlighted the danger of economic crisis combined with political instability. In this respect, PAM has coordinated numerous meetings on counterterrorism in partnership with the UN, and is looking forward to deepening the collaboration with the new UN office on Parliamentary Engagement, in Qatar.
The event provided an opportunity for parliamentarians to discuss the issues associated to the Covid-19 pandemic, namely intergovernmental coordination, weaknesses in crisis management and shortages in national health systems.
Parliamentarians have been at the forefront of the crisis, working as an indispensable link between the executive authorities and the citizens they represent, often requiring urgent government action, and supervising the efficacy of international institutions. Likewise, Churches had assisted in the understanding of the phenomenon and the necessity to react effectively.
With its participation at this event, the Assembly reaffirms its willingness to continue engaging in debates with all relevant stakeholders to improve welfare and livelihood of Euro-Mediterranean societies, in a post-COVID world. It also extended an invitation to meet in 2022 in Rome for an inter-faith dialogue meeting, under the auspices of PAM.