PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER Europe must respond to war, instability and global uncertainty without delay – Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anġlu Farrugia, this morning addressed the Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments in Copenhagen, during a session on Europe's response to war, instability, security challenges, enlargement and parliamentary cooperation.

Speaker Farrugia said that Europe is living through uncertain times and that decisions can no longer be delayed. He stated that history will judge not only action, but also inaction. He underlined that the European Union must remain committed to peace, democracy, human rights, prosperity and solidarity, while ensuring that its voice is heard globally. Referring to enlargement, the Speaker said that the presence of candidate countries at the Conference reflects their ambition to align with these values.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives stressed that any future enlargement must be accompanied by careful and democratically legitimate adjustments to decision-making, while safeguarding the interests of all Member States equally. He also emphasised that Speakers and Presidents of Parliament attend such meetings as the democratic voice of the citizens represented by their national parliaments. Inter-parliamentary cooperation, he said, must therefore be better coordinated, more effective and more visible.

Yesterday evening, the Speaker attended a reception held with the participation of His Majesty King Frederik X, as part of the official programme of the Conference.

The Speaker is being accompanied in Copenhagen by the Clerk of the House.