E. In order for us – the parliaments – to preserve, strengthen, further develop and renew

liberal parliamentary democracy, confidently and successfully, both inside and outside the

European Union, above all we need two things: Firstly, a common understanding of what

we mean by liberal democracy, what role we play in it, and what our common goals are.

Secondly, we need to implement the political will through our work. This Charter combines

both objectives and serves as a compass and guide to the role of parliaments in a

functioning liberal democracy. It comprises three chapters, ten key principles, and 30 core

elements of parliamentarism. It answers questions such as: Who are we – the parliaments

of the European Union? Why is there no liberal democracy without us? What is our role

today? How do we work? And what do we need? What do we want to preserve, or renew

and carry into the future?

F. The EUSC on 24-25 April 2023 in Prague welcomed in its conclusions1 the initiative of the

European Parliament in the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of

Parliaments of the European Union (hereinafter COSAC) to jointly advance on the role of

parliaments in a functioning democracy and to reflect on possible ways to strengthen

modern parliamentarism, with a view to informing the next EUSC about the results on this

matter. At the Global Conference to commemorate the International Day of

Parliamentarism: Strengthening Parliaments to enhance Democracy, organised by the

Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 30 June to 1 July 2023 in

León, the Declaration of León on Parliamentarism2 was adopted. In this Declaration, the

Speakers supported the initiative aimed at drafting a Charter3 enshrining the fundamental

principles and the key elements of modern parliamentarism, consubstantial to liberal

democracies, and pledged to continue working on this initiative with a view to the final

adoption of this Charter at the EUSC on 21-23 April 2024. The Charter was then addressed

at the Plenary Meeting of the LXX COSAC on 26-28 November 2023 in Madrid, as well as

at the preceding Meeting of Chairpersons of the COSAC on 17-18 November 2023 in

Madrid, further developed [and jointly adopted at the EUSC on 21-23 April 2024 in Palma

de Mallorca, ahead of the European Elections on 6-9 June 2024].

G. Especially in times of multiple challenges and in the midst of a confrontation of systems,

facing threats from outside and inside, and a growing loss of trust within society, we want

to deepen our cooperation and advocate for liberal parliamentary democracy, argue and

justify, support and strengthen it. And we want to encourage citizens to vote for their

parliaments in all elections. Because it is the composition of parliaments in a functioning

liberal democracy that determines our future.

1https://secure.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/download/file/8a8629a88808f839018809fbcbdc0009/EUSC%20Prague%20Presidency%20Conclusions%20final%20EN.pdf 2https://www.congreso.es/backoffice_doc/prensa/notas_prensa/99181_1688138271277.pdf 3The principles of which were outlined in the speech delivered in León by Othmar Karas, First Vice-President of the European Parliament.

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