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Carmelo Abela In European Conference Of Presidents Of Parliaments In Rome

Carmelo Abela In European Conference Of Presidents Of Parliaments In Rome
Local

Speaker of the House of Representatives Carmelo Abela participated in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Council of Europe in Rome, where he called for stronger parliamentary cooperation to address challenges affecting democracies, technology and international stability.

The conference gathered Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments from the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, together with representatives from partner, observer and neighbouring countries and heads of interparliamentary assemblies.

During discussions on resilient democracies, Abela stressed the importance of strong institutions, informed citizens and international cooperation in tackling hybrid threats, including disinformation, foreign interference and cyberattacks. He said that efforts to address these challenges must continue to protect democratic freedoms, particularly for smaller countries such as Malta.

Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on the labour market, the Speaker highlighted the need for clear parliamentary policies to guide the responsible use of AI. He said these policies should encourage innovation while protecting workers, fundamental rights and transparency. He added that people must remain at the centre of decisions involving new technologies.

Abela also spoke about the role of parliaments in responding to contemporary crises and called for the continued protection of international law and human rights amid rising geopolitical tensions and humanitarian challenges. He said parliamentary diplomacy can contribute towards dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

During the conference, Speaker Abela held meetings with parliamentary officials, including the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana, members of the Italian Parliament, Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, and Cardinal Mario Grech. He was accompanied by Malta’s Ambassador to Italy Daniel Azzopardi and members of the delegation.

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