Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments (EUSC)

The Conference of Speakers of the European Union Parliaments (EUSC) is an annual forum attended by Speakers from EU parliaments, the President of the European Parliament, and parliamentary Speakers from candidate countries. The Conference of Speakers aims at safeguarding and promoting the role of parliaments and carrying out common work in support of the interparliamentary activities. To this end the Conference is a forum for the exchange of opinions, information and experiences among the Speakers, on topics related to the role of parliaments and the organisation of parliamentary functions, as well as for the promotion of research activities and common action, also with respect to the forms and instruments of interparliamentary cooperation. In accordance with the rotation system, the parliament of the member state holding the presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of the calendar year also chairs the EUSC and hosts EUSC-related meetings in the first half of the following calendar year. The EUSC is held annually and is convened by the speaker of the host parliament. Each meeting is preceded by the Meeting of the Secretaries-General of the European Union Parliaments (EUSG), which is tasked with preparing the agenda for the EUSC meeting. At the end of the EUSC, the presiding parliament prepares conclusions of the presidency, which are mutually agreed on by the parliamentary speakers before its adoption.

Information on previous meetings of the Speakers of the European Union Parliaments (EUSC) is available on the IPEX platform.

Agenda

April 23, 2023
16:15Bus transport to the meeting followed by a dinner for female presidents and speakers

17:00Meeting followed by a dinner for female presidents and speakers hosted by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, Ms Markéta Pekarová Adamová
Venue: Prague Crossroads

21:00Return to the session hotels
April 24, 2023
11:15Departure on foot to the Prague Congress Centre for Troika members

11:20Welcome of the Troika meeting participants by the President of the Czech Senate and the Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies - Photo opportunity and possible doorsteps

11:30Troika meeting (Slovenia, Czech Republic, Spain, European Parliament)

12:00Briefing for interpreters (interpreters from the Troika meeting may join later)

12:45 — 13:15Departure on foot for the Prague Congress Centre for all participants, successive welcome of participants by the President of the Czech Senate and the Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, handshakes and photo opportunity

13:30Opening session – Prague Congress Centre
Video message of four highest constitutional officials of the Czech Republic

Welcome address by Mr Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Czech Senate
Welcome address by Ms Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies
Welcome address by Mr Vít Rakušan, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the Czech Republic

14:00Session I - Russian aggression against Ukraine and the EU response in a broader geopolitical context (EU enlargement, energy security, post-war reconstruction)
Opening speech by Ms Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies
Speech by the special guest: Mr Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

Keynote speakers:
- Ms Elzbieta Witek, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland
- Mr Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag
- Ms Meritxell Batet Lamaña, Speaker of the Spanish Congress of Deputies

16:00Family photo followed by a coffee break

16:30Resumption of debate

18:00End of Day I, return to the session hotels

19:10 — 19:30Bus transport to the gala dinner reception venue

20:00Gala reception given by the President of the Czech Senate Mr Miloš Vystrčil and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ms Markéta Pekarová Adamová in the presence of the President of the Czech Republic Mr Petr Pavel
Venue: Prague Castle, Spanish Hall

22:00 — 23:00Return to the session hotels
April 25, 2023
9:15Departure on foot to the Prague Congress Centre

9:30Session II - Role of the EU in global cooperation of democracies and the issue of EU member states´ dependence on totalitarian regimes (information warfare, disinformation, security of supply chains, strategic autonomy etc.)
Opening addresses by:
- Mr Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Czech Senate
- Mr Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Keynote speakers:
- Ms Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
- Mr Tomasz Grodzki, Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Poland
- Mr Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the National Council of Austria

Debate

11:00Coffee break

11:30Resumption of the Session II

13:00Debate and adoption of the Conclusions, final remarks

13:30Press conference of the President of the Czech Senate and Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies

13:30Buffet lunch
Venue: Prague Congress Centre - ZOOM Restaurant