The presidents of Europe’s senates are holding their annual meeting on 20 and 21 October, the second time they have met in the Parliament Building, following the first gathering in Bern in 2006. The recent terrorist attacks in Europe are one of the topics selected for the conference programme by Raphaël Compte, President of the Council of States and conference host.

The Association of European Senates was established in 2000 on the initiative of France. As set out in its statutes, the purpose of the association is to strengthen relations between senate presidents, promote the bicameral system in parliamentary democracy and strengthen European identity and awareness.