1. A Quiet but Powerful Voice in Rome: Why Malta’s Speaker Stepped Forward
When Carmelo Abela took his seat among the parliamentary leaders gathered in Rome, he carried with him more than just Malta’s official position. He carried the weight of a small nation that has always understood the value of being heard in a crowded room. The occasion was the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Council of Europe, a meeting that brought together speakers and parliamentary delegations from 46 member states, along with partners and neighboring countries. It was the kind of diplomatic gathering where formal speeches often drown out genuine dialogue, but Abela’s message cut through the procedural noise with a simple, urgent theme: Europe’s democracies are facing threats that no single country can defeat alone. His call for stronger cooperation between European parliaments was not a vague diplomatic gesture; it was a concrete plea for collective action on three fronts that define our era—disinformation, artificial intelligence, and the painful reality of international conflict. For a small island nation like Malta, these are not abstract concerns. They are daily challenges that test the resilience of institutions, the patience of citizens, and the very meaning of democratic governance. As Abela spoke in the historic halls of Rome, he reminded everyone present that democracy is not a finished product. It is a living, breathing experiment that requires constant care, honest conversation, and the willingness to look beyond one’s own borders. His presence was a reminder that even the smallest voices can carry the most essential truths, especially when the world seems to be drifting toward division and distrust.
2. Defending Democracy in the Age of Doubt
The first and perhaps most pressing topic on the conference agenda was the erosion of trust in democratic institutions. In recent years, disinformation has become a weapon of choice for those who wish to destabilize societies, and foreign interference has moved from the shadows to the mainstream of political life. Cyberattacks target election systems, media outlets, and even the personal data of ordinary citizens. Abela did not sugarcoat these dangers. He spoke plainly about the need for strong institutions and informed citizens as the twin pillars of a healthy democracy. An institution can only be strong if people believe in it, and people can only believe in it if they have access to reliable information. That is why the Speaker highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing these threats. No country—no matter how powerful—can truly insulate itself from coordinated campaigns of lies and manipulation. But Abela also struck a careful balance. In the rush to defend democracy, he warned, we must not sacrifice the democratic freedoms we are trying to protect. Security measures, legal frameworks, and technological tools must never become instruments of suppression. This is a particularly delicate message for smaller countries like Malta, where the lines between security and freedom can blur quickly. Abela’s point was that cooperation with European partners is not just a matter of efficiency; it is a matter of survival for small states that lack the resources to monitor every threat on their own. By working together, sharing intelligence, and harmonizing legal standards, European parliaments can build a shield that protects without suffocating. The challenge is immense, but Abela’s tone suggested a quiet confidence that Europe can rise to it—if leaders are willing to listen, learn, and act together.
3. Artificial Intelligence: A Promise and a Warning
As the conversation turned toward artificial intelligence, Abela shifted from defensive to forward-looking. AI is often described as a tool, but that word feels too small. It is reshaping economies, labor markets, education, health care, and even the way we communicate with one another. Abela acknowledged both sides of this transformation with refreshing honesty. On one hand, AI holds incredible potential to boost productivity, streamline public services, and create new job opportunities that we cannot yet imagine. On the other hand, it poses serious risks to workers, fundamental rights, and the very fabric of democratic accountability. The Speaker urged parliaments to establish clear policies that ensure AI is used responsibly and transparently. He did not call for fear-based regulation or a halt to innovation, but rather for a thoughtful framework built around human dignity. Workers must be protected from displacement and exploitation. Citizens must know when they are interacting with algorithms and when they are interacting with people. Decisions that affect lives—whether in hiring, housing, health care, or justice—must be open to scrutiny and appeal. Above all, Abela insisted that people should remain at the center of decisions about technology. That may sound obvious, but in practice it is surprisingly easy to lose sight of the human element. Governments rush to adopt AI for efficiency, companies rush to deploy it for profit, and citizens are left to adapt to changes they never voted for. By bringing AI to the parliamentary level, Abela was making a powerful statement: the future of technology is not a matter of fate, but of choice. It is up to elected representatives to ensure that choice is made in the public interest, not behind closed doors.
4. Holding the Line on International Conflict and Human Rights
International conflicts formed another key thread of Abela’s address, and here his message was both moral and practical. In a world where wars continue to displace millions, where humanitarian law is routinely violated, and where diplomatic channels are too often allowed to collapse, parliamentary leaders have a unique responsibility. They are not just lawmakers; they are guardians of the values that make civilized society possible. Abela called on parliaments to uphold international law, protect human rights, and encourage peaceful solutions through dialogue and diplomacy. These words echo the founding principles of the Council of Europe, but they are not just historical artifacts. They are urgent commitments that must be renewed every day. For Malta, a country with deep historical ties to the Mediterranean and beyond, the cost of conflict is not abstract. It is measured in the lives of migrants crossing the sea, in the instability of neighboring regions, and in the strain on global institutions that were built to prevent the worst outcomes. Abela’s call for peaceful solutions was not naive idealism. He knows that diplomacy is messy, slow, and often frustrating. But he also knows that the alternative is far worse. Parliaments, as representative bodies, are uniquely positioned to push for peace. They can hold governments accountable, ratify treaties, allocate resources for conflict prevention, and create spaces for difficult conversations. By elevating these issues at the conference, Abela was asking his fellow leaders to remember that their ultimate duty is not to power, but to people—including those who have no voice in the halls of power.
5. Beyond the Stage: Meetings That Matter
While formal speeches make headlines, the real work of diplomacy often happens in the margins. During his time in Rome, Abela engaged in a series of bilateral meetings that underscored the practical importance of relationships. He met with Lorenzo Fontana, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, a conversation that carried special weight given the close and multifaceted ties between Malta and Italy. The two leaders had much to discuss, from shared interests in the Mediterranean to common concerns about migration, security, and economic cooperation. Abela also met with Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, a meeting that symbolized Malta’s willingness to engage with partners beyond the European Union’s borders. Georgia, like many countries in the broader European neighborhood, faces its own challenges with democratic consolidation and regional pressure. Such encounters are not merely ceremonial; they are opportunities to build trust, exchange ideas, and coordinate positions on matters of mutual concern. In addition to these parliamentary counterparts, Abela met with representatives of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Italy, reflecting Malta’s active approach to diplomacy in the Gulf region and beyond. The presence of Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech in these conversations added another layer of meaning, reminding visitors that faith and diplomacy often walk hand in hand in the Mediterranean world. Abela was accompanied throughout by Malta’s Ambassador to Italy, Daniel Azzopardi, and two members of his delegation, whose quiet work behind the scenes made these meetings possible. It is easy to overlook such logistical details, but they are the backbone of any successful diplomatic mission. Every handshake, every shared meal, every off-the-record comment contributes to a web of understanding that formal resolutions cannot capture. In that sense, Abela’s visit to Rome was not just a speaking engagement; it was a reminder that diplomacy is a marathon, not a sprint.
6. The Road Ahead: A Call for Courage and Cooperation
As the conference came to a close, Abela’s message lingered in the air: democracy is not guaranteed, and it will not survive on autopilot. The threats of disinformation, unchecked artificial intelligence, and international conflict are not distant possibilities; they are present realities that demand present answers. The Speaker’s call for stronger cooperation between European parliaments is a recognition that no nation—especially no small nation—can succeed in isolation. But it is also a call for courage. Courage to make difficult decisions about technology, courage to defend human rights even when it is politically inconvenient, and courage to pursue peace even when the path is obscured by anger and fear. Abela’s visit to Rome, with its many meetings and conversations, was a microcosm of what European cooperation can look like when it is taken seriously. It was not glamorous, but it was real. It was not revolutionary, but it was necessary. For Malta, a country that has weathered empires, upheavals, and transformations, the commitment to dialogue and democratic values is not a luxury. It is a legacy. By standing in front of his fellow parliamentary leaders and speaking plainly about the challenges ahead, Carmelo Abela did more than represent his nation—he reminded everyone in that room why they had chosen public service in the first place. The road ahead is uncertain, and the obstacles are formidable. But if European parliaments can heed his call, if they can find the will to cooperate across borders and the wisdom to keep people at the center of their decisions, then the democratic experiment may not only survive—it may thrive. And that is a future worth fighting for, one conversation, one meeting, and one courageous decision at a time.