Conferences of Parliamentary Speakers and Presidents
As part of the international parliamentary community the Speaker is invited to attend and speak at Conferences for Parliamentary Speakers and Presidents to talk about our parliamentary practice. On occasions where the Speaker is unable to attend due to other commitments, he may nominate a Deputy Speaker to represent him.
Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers' Conference (COTSC)
Aims: To foster contacts, coordination and the exchange of experience among Speakers of the UK House of Commons and Overseas Territories; consider questions of interest and express non-party-political views on such issues; promotion of knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms and the development of parliamentary institutions.
- Membership: Speaker of the UK House of Commons and the Speakers of the Overseas Territories legislative assemblies
- Organising body: UK Parliament and host legislature
- Frequency of meetings: Annually
- Place of meeting: Host territory
- Conference language: English
2024
In 2024, the Conference was held in the Turks and Caicos Islands hosted by Hon. Gordon Burton, Speaker of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly.
Read the Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers’ Conference 2024 Communique. (pdf, 111KB)
2023
In 2023, the Conference was held in Anguilla hosted by Mrs Barbara Webster-Bourne, Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly.
Read the Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers’ Conference 2023 Communiqué (pdf, 101KB) (pdf).
2022
The inaugural Commons and Overseas Territories Speakers’ Conference was held in May 2022 in London.
Read the communiqué from the 2022 Conference.
Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC)
Aims: To maintain, foster, and encourage impartiality and fairness on the part of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments; promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms; and develop parliamentary institutions
- Membership: Speakers and Presiding Officers of National Parliaments of all independent sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations
- Organising body: Host country and the CSPOC Secretariat
- Frequency of meetings: The Conference normally meets every two years
- Place of meeting: Host country from the Commonwealth of Nations
- Document languages: English
- Conference languages: English
Find out more about the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (external website).
European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments
Aims: To act as a forum for the exchange of opinions, information and experiences, as well as for the promotion of research activities and common action on topics related to the role of parliaments and the organisation of parliamentary functions, also with respect to the forms and tools of interparliamentary cooperation
- Membership: Presidents and speakers of the parliaments (for bicameral systems: Presidents of both chambers) of the 47 Council of Europe Member States and the three countries with observer status, i.e. Canada, Israel and Mexico, the Presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament
- Organising body: Council of Europe and host country
- Frequency of meetings: The Conference normally meets every two years
- Place of meeting: Alternates between Strasbourg and a capital of a Council of Europe member state
- Document languages: English and French
- Conference languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian
Find out more about the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments (external website).
G7 Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Lower Houses Conference
Aims: To promote an exchange of experience, opinions, and information, primarily on parliamentary matters such as the role of parliaments and the organisation of parliamentary functions in a rapidly changing world.
- Membership: The presidents and speakers of the national parliaments, or their representatives, of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the USA. The President of the EU Parliament is also invited.
- Organising body: Host country
- Frequency of meetings: Annually; always held after the G7 Summit
- Place of meeting: Always held in the country hosting the G7 Summit
- Conference languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese
2024
The 2024 Conference was held in Italy.
Read the 2024 declaration (pdf, 185KB)
2023
The 2023 Conference was held in Japan.
Read the 2023 declaration (pdf, 185KB) (pdf).
2022
The 2022 Conference was held in Berlin, Germany. Due to the death of HM The Queen, Speaker Hoyle was unable to attend.
Read the 2022 communiqué (pdf, 79KB) (pdf).
Due to the invasion of Ukraine, the G7 Speakers also held a virtual conference in March 2022.
Read the declaration from the virtual meeting (pdf, 94KB) (pdf).
2021
In 2021, the G7 Speakers’ Conference was held in Chorley, Speaker’s Hoyle constituency.
Read the 2021 communiqué (pdf, 76KB) (pdf).
2020
In 2020, the USA hosted a virtual conference.
Read the 2020 communiqué (pdf, 9KB) (pdf).
P20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit
The G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit, also known as P20, is a forum that brings together parliamentary leaders from the Group of Twenty (G20) countries to discuss global economic issues and promote inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Aims: to provide a parliamentary dimension to global governance, raise awareness, build political support for international commitments, and ensure that these are effectively translated into national realities.
- Membership: The presidents and speakers of the national parliaments, or their representatives, of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA. The Pan-African Parliament and the European Parliament President are also invited.
- Organising body: Host country and Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Frequency of meetings: Annually
- Place of meeting: Always held in the country hosting the G20 Summit
- Conference languages:
2023
The 2023 Conference was held in India.
Quadrilateral Presiding Officers/Speakers Meeting
Aims: To exchange ideas and discuss challenges on parliamentary issues
- Membership: Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Parliament and the UK Parliament
- Organising body: Host legislature
- Frequency of meetings: Annually
- Place of meeting: rotates amongst members
- Conference languages: English
Speakers of the Isles Conference
Aims: To share knowledge and experience with colleagues across parliamentary networks and enhance working relationships
- Membership: Speakers of the UK Parliament, Speakers of the Oireachtas, Speakers of the devolved assembles and parliaments of the United Kingdom, Speakers of the legislatures of the Crown Dependencies
- Organising body: Host country
- Frequency of meetings: Annually
- Place of meeting: Host country
The inaugural Speakers of the Isles Conference was held in July 2023.
Find our more information about this year's Speakers of the Isles Conference (external website).
World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments
Aims: To work within the national and international framework to strengthen the parliamentary dimension of international cooperation, support the United Nations, and enhance the democratic legitimacy of the decisions adopted in the global system
- Membership: All the presiding officers of national parliaments worldwide
- Frequency of meetings: Every five years
- Place of meeting: New York (2000, 2005, 2015), Geneva (2010), virtual conference (2020)
- Document languages: English
- Conference languages: English
The Fifth World Conference was held in September 2021 in Vienna, Austria and was attended by Dame Eleanor Laing MP.
Enquiries
The secretariat for these conferences at the House of Commons is the Speaker’s Office. Any enquires should be directed to: hocspeakerexternal@parliament.uk