Speaker attends the European Conference of the Presidents of Parliament
24 March 2025
On Thursday 20 and Friday 21 March 2025, the Speaker attended the European Conference of the Presidents of Parliament, held at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Over 60 Speakers or Deputy Speakers took part at the Conference which is held every two years. This year marked the Conference’s 50th anniversary.
Mr Speaker delivered a keynote speech on, 'Violence Against Politicians' and reflected on the experiences of the UK Parliament in recent years and the work undertaken to ensure that elected representatives are able to take part in the robust debate that is required, but to do so free from intimidation and violence to their lives and those of their families.
In the margins of the Conference, the Speaker met with Mr Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Mr Andrija Mandić, President of the Parliament of Montenegro.
Mr Speaker also had the opportunity to engage with G7 Speakers, including Yaël Braun-Pivet, Speaker of the National Assembly of France, Hon Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Hon Lorenzo Fontana, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy and Bärbel Bas, President of the Germany Bundestag. He also met with Verona Murphy, the Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann of Ireland.