The third annual meeting of parliamentary speakers of German-speaking countries took place in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 July. At the invitation of the president of the Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mars Di Bartolomeo, the conference was attended by National Council president Dominique de Buman (CVP/FR), the president of the German Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble, the president of the Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Albert Frick, the second president of the National Council of the Republic of Austria, Doris Bures, and the president of the Parliament of the German-speaking Community of Belgium, Alexander Miesen.
The main theme of the conference was digitalisation as an opportunity and challenge for parliaments and democracies. As part of the two-day gathering parliamentary speakers discussed their projects and experiences. They stressed the potential of digital technologies in rendering democratic processes more transparent and in getting the public more involved in decision-making. They also examined issues associated with digitalisation such as the need for adequate internet access, the risk of manipulation and the overinvolvement of interest groups and lobbyists.
Alongside the discussions on digitalisation, delegates also paid a visit to Europe’s first satellite operator (Société Européenne des Satellites, SES) in Betzdorf.
The Conference of parliamentary speakers of German-speaking countries is a platform to promote inter-parliamentary exchange and strengthen relations between participating countries. It was initiated three years ago by the former president of the Bundestag, Dr Norbert Lammert, who attended the conference in Luxemburg as a guest of honour. Last year’s meeting on the theme of opportunities and challenges of structural change was organised by Jürg Stahl (SVP, ZH) and the town of Winterthur.