COVID – 19 Update
The advent and rapid spread of coronavirus has affected our work in many ways. We are now required to work from home in order to reduce transmission risk both at work and on the journey to work. However, we continue to work intensively to achieve our project goals.
The Implementation Task Force (ITF), co-chaired by the European Commission and International IDEA, continues to meet virtually on a regular basis to set strategic direction. Of course, we have had to adjust ways of working, and postpone or change many planned activities.
The situation is changing on a daily, if not hourly basis. Here are some of the key updates:
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All missions scheduled between March and June are now postponed to a later date, likely from the second half of 2020, which will be set in consultation with the relevant partners.
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We will continue development of current and planned partnerships, through dialogue with EU Member State Parliaments (EUMSP), Partner Parliaments, and EU Delegations.
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We will explore and test with EUMSP and partner parliaments the potential for on-line knowledge-sharing and capacity building.
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INTER PARES is speeding up its development of the e-learning course in fundamentals of parliamentary functioning. We’re setting up a working group from EUMSPs to advise us on this initiative, and we’ll be in touch with you to ask for your help in provision of materials and testing.
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We are redirecting staff resources towards development of knowledge resources in parliamentary development, through early launch of the Parliamentary Primers on key issues in parliamentary development.
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It is important at times like this that parliaments reflect good practices in public health and safety, and also continue to exercise their roles of representation, legislation and oversight, which are even more important when quick and decisive actions must be taken. We are developing a Primer on Parliaments at Times of Crisis, which we hope will be helpful for partner parliaments, and parliaments around the world. In this, we look at the alternative options parliaments have taken to enable continued functioning during past crises as well as the current crisis, and explore innovations in holding virtual debates and voting, as well as means to engage with citizens. We are currently collecting the data and research on this topic, and we have reached out to the IPU’s Centre for Innovation in Parliament (CIP) which INTER PARES already supports. Any input and feedback that you have on this initiative will be greatly appreciated.
We will communicate more frequently with you during this time of physical quarantine, both through our website, and direct contacts.
You can also keep up to date with project activities through our social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.