The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) participated in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments, held on 24 and 25 October in Strasbourg. PAM President Senator Alia Bouran, accompanied by Secretary General Ambassador Sergio Piazzi, represented the Assembly on this important occasion.
The high-level meeting gathered the Parliamentary leaders of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe, together with partner countries, and heads of international parliamentary organisations. The aim of the event, on the 70th Anniversary of the Council of Europe, was to foster reflection and facilitate discussion on the common European ideals and values that shape the policies and standards of the Council of Europe.
The conference represented a perfect forum to host a debate on the central role of Parliaments in addressing global issues, as outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The event also featured a critical discussion on the role that national Parliaments play in combating the increasing level of harassment and hate speech towards female politicians and parliamentarians.
In her address, President Bouran highlighted that the challenges faced by Europe are the same of those in southern and eastern neighbours, including on peace and security, terrorism, mass migrations, climate change, poverty, food security, water, demographic trends, youth unemployment and trade wars.
President Bouran further underscored the political and security crises affecting the Euro-Mediterranean region, noting the evolving situation in the Syrian conflict and the uncertain fate of ISIS Foreign Terrorist Fighters; the ongoing crisis in Libya; and the unacceptable deadlock in the peace process between Israel and Palestine.
PAM President called on greater cooperation among the parliaments of the Euro-Mediterranean region, including through platforms such as PAM, to address common concerns in a constructive and collaborative manner. “I believe”, she mentioned, “that PAM is the only political organization today, where senior politicians from, among others, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, continue to sit around the same table, and together with their European colleagues, discuss concrete issues, and often achieve consensus”.
In Strasbourg, the PAM delegation also spoke with the Presidents of Parliaments of Switzerland, Italy, Malta, Spain, Slovenia and France, among others. In addition, Ambassador Piazzi took part in the regular meeting of the Secretaries General of European Parliaments.