Malta’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Carmelo Abela, has called for stronger cooperation between European parliaments to tackle disinformation, regulate artificial intelligence and promote peaceful solutions to international conflicts.Speaking at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Council of Europe in Rome, Abela joined parliamentary leaders from 46 member states, alongside representatives from partner and neighbouring countries.During discussions on threats to democracy, Abela highlighted the importance of strong institutions, informed citizens and international cooperation in addressing disinformation, foreign interference and cyberattacks.He stressed that efforts to tackle these challenges must also protect democratic freedoms, noting that cooperation with European partners is particularly important for smaller countries such as Malta.Turning to artificial intelligence, Abela urged parliaments to establish clear policies ensuring that AI is used responsibly and transparently, while protecting workers and fundamental rights.He also acknowledged AI’s potential to boost productivity and create new job opportunities, emphasising that people should remain at the centre of decisions about the technology.International conflicts were another key topic, with Abela calling on parliaments to uphold international law, protect human rights and encourage peaceful solutions through dialogue and diplomacy.During his visit to Rome, Abela also met Italian Chamber of Deputies President Lorenzo Fontana, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and other international representatives.He also held meetings with representatives of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Italy and Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech.Abela was accompanied by Malta’s Ambassador to Italy, Daniel Azzopardi, and two members of the delegation.•