Data from Freedom House, a watchdog organization that measures democracy and freedom around the world, shows that the number of countries classified as “free” rose steadily from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s. Many Latin American countries transitioned from military rule to democracy; after the end of the Cold War, much of Eastern Europe followed suit. And longstanding liberal democracies in North America, Western Europe and Australia seemed more secure than ever. But since 2005, Freedom House’s index has shown a decline in global freedom each year.
(How Stable are Democracies? ‘Warning Signs are Flashing Red’ by Amanda Taub, The Interpreter, New York Times (November 29, 2016))
The most warning signs can be seen in the Freedom House’s annual country-by-country report (2016) on global political rights and civil liberties, which states, that “the number of countries showing a decline in freedom for the year—72—was the largest since the 10-year slide began. Just 43 countries made gains” and in the recent developments, when a non-democratic country was influencing election results in a democratic one.
On a very special historical occasion, namely, the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, the international parliamentary meeting Europe and the United States: Reaffirming Transatlantic Solidarity will discuss negative developments, new challenges and the future of the Transatlantic solidarity.
During the meeting, members of the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament and other Parliaments in Europe will have an opportunity to discuss in depth current threats to democracy and stability in their respective countries and new ways to take a leadership to address them.
The international parliamentary meeting Europe and the United States: Reaffirming Transatlantic Solidarity will be an excellent opportunity to pave the way to the parliamentary meeting to be held in the context of the Community of Democracies Ministerial Meeting in Washington D.C. (USA) in September this year, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the US-Baltic Partnership Charter.
Entrance: Building III of the Seimas
8.30
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Registration of participants Venue: Lobby near the Constitution Hall, Building I of the Seimas
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9.00 – 9.20 |
OPENING SESSION
Venue: Constitution Hall, Building I of the Seimas
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Welcome address by H.E. Mr Viktoras PRANCKIETIS, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Welcome address by Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Chair of the Parliamentary Forum for Democracy, Head of the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the United States of America of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Signatory to the Act of Independence of Lithuania, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
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9.20 – 11.00
11.00 – 11.10
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SESSION 1
CHALLENGES AND THREATS IN THE TRANSATLANTIC SPACE: SEARCH FOR NEW WAYS TO PRESERVE SOLIDARITY
Venue: Constitution Hall, Building I of the Seimas
Moderated by Mr Carl GERSHMAN, President of the Endowment for Democracy
Speakers:
Prof. Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, Signatory to the Act of Independence of Lithuania, former Member of the European Parliament
H.E. Ms Anne HALL, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary United States Embassy to Lithuania
Mr Jarosław OBREMSKI – Vice Chairman of the Foreign and European Union Affairs Committee of the Senate of the Republic of Poland
Mr Ojārs Ēriks KALNIŅŠ, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia
Mr Charles DAVIDSON, Executive Director, Kleptocracy Initiative, Hudson Institute
Mr Andrius KUBILIUS, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Debate
Family photo Venue: Stained Glass Gallery, Building I of the Seimas |
11.10 – 11.50 |
Coffee break Venue: Seimas Cafeteria, Building I of the Seimas
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11.50 – 13.30 |
SESSION 2
THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY TO BROADEN THE TRANSATLANTIC SPACE: THE NEED FOR CLOSER COOPERATION BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE USA
Venue: Constitution Hall, Building I of the Seimas
Moderated by Mr Jerzy POMIANOWSKI, Executive Director, European Endowment for Democracy
Keynote speaker Mr Elmar BROK, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament
Speakers:
Mr Juozas BERNATONIS, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Mr Egidijus VAREIKIS, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Ms Sofio KATSARAVA, Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Georgia Ms Valentina BULIGA, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy and European Integration of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
Mr Borys TARASYUK, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Mr Žygimantas PAVILIONIS, Chair of the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations and Democratic Development of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Debate
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13.30 – 14.00
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CLOSING SESSION
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Venue: Constitution Hall, Building I of the Seimas
Moderated by Mr Matyas EORSI, Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the Community of Democracies
Mr Elmar BROK, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament
Mr Carl GERSHMAN, President of the Endowment for Democracy
Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Chair of the Parliamentary Forum for Democracy, Head of the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the United States of America of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Signatory to the Act of Independence of Lithuania, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
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14.00 – 15.00 |
Lunch Venue: Seimas Restaurant, Building III of the Seimas
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15.00 Departure of the participants