Tuesday 3 February @ 9:30-18:30 CET

On Tuesday, ECR MEP Stephen Bartulica will host an event focused on free speech.

Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic societies and a precondition for open political debate. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression. It protects the right to hold, seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of national frontiers. This right is essential for democracy and includes the freedom to express, criticise and debate openly.

Against this backdrop, the VII Transatlantic Summit “Free Speech vs Regulated Speech – Strengthening the Pillars of Democracy” will take place on Tuesday, 3 February, at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event is organised by Stephen Bartulica, Member of the European Parliament, President of the ECR Working Group on Freedom of Speech and President of the Political Network for Values, in cooperation with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group and the Patriots for Europe Group.

The Summit will bring together Members of the European Parliament, national parliamentarians, members of government and civic leaders from Europe, Africa and the Americas for a high-level transatlantic exchange on the protection of freedom of expression as a foundational democratic principle.

Discussions will focus on the role of public institutions, parliaments, academia, culture and international organisations in safeguarding this right, with particular attention to the ongoing debate surrounding the implementation and implications of the European Union’s Digital Services Act.

The programme includes panel discussions as well as opportunities for informal exchange and will take place in Room Spaak 1A002 at the European Parliament from 09:30 to 18:30.

A keynote address will be delivered by José Antonio Kast, who will address current challenges to freedom of expression and the need to strengthen cooperation among democratic leaders across regions. The event will also include contributions from ECR Co-Chairman Patryk Jaki, Kinga Gal, First Vice President of the PfE Group, Mateusz Morawiecki, President of the ECR Party, and Santiago Abascal, President of the Patriots for Europe Party.

When: Tuesday @ 9:30 - 18:30

Where: European Parliament Brussel SPAAK 1A002

The Summit will be broadcast live on ECR Group social media channels:

Part 1 (09:30–14:00):

X: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1MYxNloAVdVGw

YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/cfk8_lqa52k?feature=share

Part 2 (15:30–19:00):
X: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1lPKqvbyXQYGb
YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/BN3FB_W18zk?feature=share

Programme

Tuesday, 3 February
European Parliament, Brussels, Spaak 01A002

09:30 – Opening

A right prior to the State

· Stephen Bartulica, Member of the European Parliament (ECR Group) and President of the Political Network for Values, Croatia

· Patryk Jaki, Member of the European Parliament, Co-Chairman of the ECR Group, Poland

09:45 – The role of the State: custodians, not censors

Chair:

· Enikö Györi, Member of the European Parliament (PfE Group), Hungary

Speakers:

· Luz Pacheco, President of the Constitutional Court, Peru

· Víctor Verdún, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paraguay

· Clara Muzzio, Deputy Head of Buenos Aires City Government, Argentina

· Fabiola Morales, Vice-Councillor of Lima Municipality, Peru

10:30 – The role of the Parliament: legislating without silencing

The case of the EU’s Digital Services Act

Chair:

· Carlo Fidanza, Member of the European Parliament (ECR Group), Italy

Speakers:

· Raúl Latorre, President of the Chamber of Deputies, Paraguay

· Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Member of the House of Representatives, Nigeria

· Tom Vandendriessche, Member of the European Parliament (PfE Group), Belgium

· Branko Grims, Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group), Slovenia

· Paolo Inselvini, Member of the European Parliament (ECR Group), Italy

Comments:

· Nicolás Mayoraz, Member of Parliament, Argentina

· Laurence Trochu, Member of the European Parliament (ECR Group), France

11:40 – Defending truth in public debate: building spaces for dialogue

Chair:

· Margarita de la Pisa, Member of the European Parliament (PfE Group), Spain

Speakers:

· Michel González Márquez, Member of the Senate and Secretary General of PAN, Mexico

· Lucy Akello, Member of Parliament, Uganda

· Santiago Santurio, Member of Parliament, Argentina

· Nikolas Ferreira, Member of Parliament, Brazil

Comments:

· Ronald Portillo, Member of Parliament, Guatemala

· Andrés Castillo, Member of Parliament, Ecuador

· Rodrigo Iván Cortés, Vice-Chair of the Political Network for Values, Mexico

12:45 – Spotlight case

· Eva Vlaardingerbroek, Political commentator, The Netherlands

13:00 – Networking Lunch

JAN 2 Q Catering Area, European Parliament

15:00 – Family picture

15:30 – Academia, culture and media as sanctuaries of freedom

Chair:

· Ádám Kavecsánszki, President of the Foundation for a Civic Hungary

Speakers:

· Fernando Sánchez, Former Ambassador to the Holy See and President of the Catholic University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica

· Alvino-Mario Fantini, Director ofThe European Conservative, Italy

· Jay Richards, Member of the PNfV Council of Experts and Vice President of Social and Domestic Policy, The Heritage Foundation, USA

· Fr. Benedict Kiely, Catholic priest, United Kingdom

Comments:

· Bart-Jan Spruyt, Opinion Editor,CNE.news, Netherlands

· Polonia Castellanos, PNfV Council of Experts’ Member and President of the Christian Lawyers Foundation, Spain

16:30 – Counteracting disguised censorship in international forums

Chair:

· Grace Melton, Senior Associate for International Social Issues, The Heritage Foundation, USA

Speakers:

· Adina Portaru, Senior Counsel Europe, ADF International, Belgium

· Gregor Puppinck, General Director, European Centre for Law and Justice, France

· Neydy Casillas, PNfV Board Member and Vice President of the Global Center for Fundamental Rights, Mexico

· Ernesto Araújo, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brazil

· Sharon Slater, PNfV Board Member, Family Watch International, USA

17:30 – Final remarks

A Transatlantic Alliance for Freedom

· Kinga Gál, Member of the European Parliament and First Vice President of the PfE Group, Hungary

· Mateusz Morawiecki, President of the ECR Party, Poland

· Santiago Abascal, President of the PfE Party, Spain

Keynote address:

· José Antonio Kast, Elected President of Chile

· Stephen Bartulica, Member of the European Parliament (ECR Group) and President of the Political Network for Values, Croatia

The next generation speaks: a call to action

· Young leaders of the Political Network for Values

18:30 – Adjourn