[PIO] Participation of Members of Parliament Mr. Dimitris Demetriou and Mr. Marios Mavridis at the Conference on Democracy in Europe in Stockholm

The work of the Conference on Democracy in Europe, which took place within the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), concluded yesterday in Stockholm. The House of Representatives was represented by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Institutions, Values and Governance, Mr. Dimitris Demetriou (chairman) and the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Marios Mavridis.

Mr Demetriou, in his intervention in a debate on the promotion of democratic dialogue and the role of parliaments, said that dialogue with civil society and their participation in the decision-making process can help to establish more effective tools to protect human rights, promote participatory democracy, good governance and maintain checks and balances. Parliaments, Mr Demetriou stressed, as guarantors of citizens' rights and interests, must effectively exercise their oversight role to strengthen democracy and promote good governance, transparency and accountability, thus regaining their credibility.

In the same debate, Mavridis noted that the Conference on the Future of Europe was a unique opportunity to put European citizens at the heart of the public debate and reflection on the challenges and priorities of the EU. Mavridis underlined the need to further strengthen citizens' participation, noting that the discussion and exchange of best practices among MEPs is essential to find the necessary and appropriate mechanisms to enable European citizens to participate effectively in the decision-making process, both at local and European level. Demetriou, in his intervention on the independence of the judiciary and trust in social institutions, pointed out that the judiciary is the guardian of the rule of law and underlined the need to further strengthen the dialogue between the legislative, executive and judicial powers, noting that parliaments can, through the adoption of legislation, strengthen the judicial system. Demetriou referred in particular to the legislation adopted by the House of Representatives on judicial reform in Cyprus, which enhances transparency in the process of appointment of judges and during the exercise of judicial power. He further noted the importance of the role of independent institutions in the system of checks and balances and in the investigation of citizens' complaints against the administration.

On the same issue, Mavridis pointed out that phenomena of misinformation and populism observed in today's political life justifiably reduce citizens' trust in the institutions. Parliaments, he stressed, should protect the institutions by introducing reforms that improve the resilience of the political system. Mavridis also noted the passage of legislation by the House of Representatives, under which the Independent Authority against Corruption was established and the regulatory framework for transparency in the public decision-making process was established.

(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source

[/P]
Source[/P][/URL][/P]