IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong welcomed European Commission Vice President Ms. Vera Jourova to the House of Parliaments on 25 April. Ms Jourova leads the Commission’s work on values and transparency and upholding the rule of law.
Vice President Jourova and the Secretary General Chungong spoke about electoral protection and disinformation, and how the international community can work together to support democracy by making use of innovative ways to strengthen it. The new digital tools should be used to strengthen and not subvert democracy.
Climate change and providing a parliamentary perspective to the main UN processes were also on the agenda, along with efforts to reach a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine.
The European Commission and the IPU cooperate on multiple global projects. The Commission contributes to the IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament and ongoing work to produce Standards for Democratic Parliaments. The European Commission is taking initiatives on protecting and reinforcing democracy in the digital world. The IPU will continue to work closely with the Commission on ensuring democratic systems are open, transparent, protected from external interference.