EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 617: Erklæring fra den årlige konference til fejring af “International Day of Parliamentarism 30/6 til 1/7-23

Europaudvalget 2022-23 (2. samling)
EUU Alm.del Bilag 617
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CONFERENCE TO COMMEMORATE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF

PARLIAMENTARISM

STRENGHTENING PARLIAMENTS TO ENHANCE DEMOCRACY

León, June 30 and July 1, 2023

Declaration of León on parliamentarism

The Conference to commemorate the International Day of Parliamentarism took place

on June 30 and July 1, 2023, in León, within the framework of the parliamentary

dimension of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union during the second half of

2023. This Conference brought together Speakers, or their representatives, from the

Parliaments of the Member States of the European Union, EU candidate countries,

countries with a special partnership with the European Union and emerging

democracies, to commemorate the International Day of Parliamentarism, stressing its

historical roots. It was inaugurated by His Majesty the King of Spain and presided over

by the Speaker of the Congress of Deputies, Ms. Meritxell Batet, and the Speaker of the

Senate, Mr. Ander Gil. Professor John Keane, author, among other works, of

‘The

Life

and Death of Democracy’

addressed the Conference as special guest. It was held at the

Cloister of the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro de León, the same place where the Cortes

of León met in 1188, recognized by the UNESCO as the first documented example of

parliamentarism in history.

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 617: Erklæring fra den årlige konference til fejring af “International Day of Parliamentarism 30/6 til 1/7-23

Defence of European values and democratic institutions faced with the new challenges

and threats to Democracy

The Speakers

1. Stress that we are at a crucial moment for the development and consolidation of

democracy worldwide in the face of new challenges and threats.

2. Note with concern threats such as Russia´s illegal war of aggression against

Ukraine, the assault against parliamentary institutions, foreign interference in

democratic and electoral processes, disinformation generated by social media

that disrupts social debate and alters the democratic conversation, or challenges

such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, the energy and food crisis, or the

consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Consider that there are national factors that play a role in the way these common

developments are addressed which constitute real internal threats to

democracy, such as the rise of extremism and populism, nationalism,

protectionism, the deterioration of democratic quality in many countries,

extreme polarization and the emergence of authoritarianism. And they recall

that totalitarianism also uses democracy and parliaments for its establishment

and consolidation.

4. Consider that the rise of authoritarianism and the tolerance thereof are at the

root of Russia´s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which they firmly

condemn, since it is an attack against the territorial integrity of a country, which

violates the Charter of the United Nations and, hence, breaches the most basic

principles of international law. They support the continuation of financial,

economic, humanitarian, and military assistance, as long as it is needed, until the

full restoration and control of its internationally recognised borders; the

effective implementation of sanctions against Russia; and the establishment of

a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression against Ukraine, noting

the indispensable role of ensuring accountability for the prospects of durable

peace. They additionally express hope for strengthened endeavours of the

European Union and its international partners to promote dialogue based on the

key values and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the

Helsinki Final Act that would lead to the end of the Russian military aggression

and all hostilities when the circumstances so permit.

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 617: Erklæring fra den årlige konference til fejring af “International Day of Parliamentarism 30/6 til 1/7-23

5. Deem that the promotion of democratic values, human rights and the Rule of

Law in our societies requires limiting trade relations with totalitarian regimes,

and particularly, the dependence on the supply of raw materials, basic foodstuff,

essential products, medicines and technological products, and thus advocate for

strategic autonomy as regards the production and diversification of supply

chains and an increased cooperation with other regions such as Ibero-America,

Africa or Indo-Pacific.

6. Understand that the assault against democratic institutions in several countries

can be seen as a consequence of the current rise of populist and extremist

movements, propelled by disinformation and false news.

7. Warn of the distortion of reality on the basis of which citizens have to take

decisions in electoral processes, using the tools provided by social media. And

they welcome the adoption of the new Digital Markets Act and the Digital

Services Act of the European Union. They recognise that the benefits of

digitalization are obvious, but its disproportionate and unbalanced use in the

market to access such services may have a negative impact on democracy,

fundamental rights and on the economy. They warn of the dangers for

democracy of not agreeing on an international regulation of artificial

intelligence, and welcome, in this regard, the work towards a European Artificial

Intelligence Act.

8. Welcome the progresses made as regards the digital transformation of

Parliaments, but they consider that liberal democracies require an in-person

Parliament, with in-person speeches and debates. And they consider that digital

literacy programmes aimed at the general population should be encouraged, so

that no one is excluded from the democratic process, guaranteeing general

access of the population to the Internet.

9. Support extending to all Parliaments initiatives such as the European Democracy

Action Plan, based on the Action Plan against Disinformation, to stop

disinformation campaigns and for the protection of the quality of information

and of democratic systems and public debates.

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 617: Erklæring fra den årlige konference til fejring af “International Day of Parliamentarism 30/6 til 1/7-23

The importance of Parliaments to enhance Democracy

The Speakers

10. Declare that Parliaments are one of the main institutional pillars of

representative democracies and of the Rule of Law. As Chambers directly elected

by the people, they are at the heart of liberal democracy and must therefore be

involved in all decision-making processes, in the face of the contemporary drift

from

“parliamentary” democracy to “governmental” democracy.

Parliaments

reflect and guarantee social pluralism and, above all, the political pluralism that

cements social support and the democratic legitimation of the State’s

institutions.

11. Support the strengthening of Parliaments as key element of the international

strategy for the evolution of democracy. A robust and efficient Parliament

contributes to political stability, economic development and to the quality of life

of citizens.

12. Deem it necessary to improve the capacity of Parliaments to address a whole

series of global strategic challenges, focusing particularly on the political

involvement of women and young people.

13. On occasion of the International Day of Parliamentarism, on June 30, they warn

of the need to recall the origins of parliamentarism to be able to understand the

profound social change it entailed for the organization of medieval societies,

understand its relevance for the subsequent constitutional development of all

modern democracies and be aware of why democracy is the best of all possible

systems of organization as opposed to the simple recipes of authoritarianism.

14. Acknowledge the deep historical roots of the Cortes de León, gathered in 1188

by the King Alfonso IX, in the very Cloister of the Collegiate Church of San Isidoro

de León where this meeting is being held, with a view to commemorating that

encounter, where the institutional presence of citizens in higher-level decision

making, together with the king, the church and the nobility occurred for the first

time, giving rise to modern Parliaments.

15. Underline the value of the Decreta of León, declared by UNESCO as Memory of

the World, being the oldest known written information regarding the European

parliamentary system and constitutional heritage, based on the respect of laws

established by uses and customs and procedural and judicial guarantees that

must protect citizens and private property, thus laying the first foundation stone

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 617: Erklæring fra den årlige konference til fejring af “International Day of Parliamentarism 30/6 til 1/7-23

of the Rule of Law and equality, given its profound resemblance to modern

practices regarding parliamentary representation.

Parliamentary cooperation and development of Democracy

The Speakers

16. Note that the Parliaments of the European Union, and many others, are

increasingly involved in parliamentary diplomacy and in providing technical

support to strengthen Parliaments worldwide, acknowledging that peer support

is the most efficient way to share lessons learnt and transfer knowledge to

developing Parliaments, which, in turn, results in a stronger democracy.

17. Recognize the progresses made as regards the different parliamentary

cooperation projects with Interpares (Parliaments

for Partnership)

for the

effective development of democracy in the world, enabling a network of

Parliaments with a view to their technical cooperation. Acknowledge the

usefulness of all other types of capacity building programmes financed by the

European Union or provided bilaterally by the Parliaments of the European

Union.

18. Support the initiative from the European Parliament, as mentioned in the

Conclusions of the Presidency of the Conference of Speakers of the European

Union Parliaments held in Prague on 24-25 April 2023, aimed at drafting a

“Charter on the role of Parliamentarism in an effective Democracy”

enshrining

the fundamental principles and the key elements of modern parliamentarism,

consubstantial to liberal democracies.

19. Pledge to continue working on this initiative with a view to the final adoption of

this Charter at the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union

to be held in Madrid on April 21-23, 2024.

León, June 30, 2023

The principles of which were outlined in the speech delivered in León by Othmar Karas, First Vice-President of the

European Parliament.