Visit of the Honourable Anthony Rota, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons, and a Parliamentary Delegation, Kingdom of Denmark and Kingdom of Sweden
From April 11 to 14, 2023, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Anthony Rota, M.P., led a parliamentary delegation on a visit to the Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Sweden. The delegation was composed of Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia, M.P.; Mr. Ziad Aboultaif, M.P.; Mr. Matthew Green, M.P.; and Ms. Julie Vignola, M.P. Accompanying the delegation were Ms. Chantal Piché Rota, Mr. Alexandre Mattard-Michaud, Chief of Staff of the Speaker of the House of Commons, and Ms. Vanessa Moss-Norbury, Secretary to the delegation.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, the delegation met with:
- His Royal Highness Frederik Andre Henrik Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark;
- His Excellency Søren Gade, Speaker of the Danish Parliament and the Presidium of the Folketinget;
- Members of the Folketing from the Faroe Islands;
- Members of the Arctic Delegation;
- Members of the Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs and Defence committees;
- Ms. Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and Ms. Kristina Háfoss, Secretary General of the Nordic Council;
- Mr. Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;
- Mr. Nils Thor Rosted, Head of Communications, ARC, Amager Bakke; and
- Mr. Iver Høj Nielsen, Head of P4G Activities, State of Green.
In Stockholm, Sweden, the delegation met with:
- His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf;
- His Excellency Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden;
- His Excellency Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Parliament;
- Mr. Kenneth G. Forslund, Member of Parliament, First Deputy Speaker of the Swedish Parliament;
- Mr. Jan Knutsson, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs;
- Mr. Olle Burell, President of the Stockholm City Council;
- Ms. Ann-Kristin Söderblad, Managing Director and Ms. Abby Afriyie, Social Sustainability Manager Yalla Rinkeby;
- Ms. Shilér Al Fouadi, #SheLeadsHere advocate; and
- Mr. Rene Summer, Director, Government and Policy Advocacy, Group Function Marketing and Corporate Relations, and Mr. Mikael Halen, Director, Government and Industry Relations, Broadband, Ericsson.
The delegation was also pleased to participate in a roundtable hosted by International IDEA, who’s mission is to advance democracy worldwide. The discussion, entitled Parliaments as Cornerstones of Democracy, served as an opportunity to discuss strong parliaments as crucial cornerstones for well-functioning democracies, enabling adequate, inclusive representation, and checks on executive powers.
The purpose of the visit was to reinforce parliamentary cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties between both countries. The delegates met with a wide variety of individuals and groups, including legislators, NGOs, businesspeople, and advocates.
Beyond the already mentioned meetings, Speaker Rota and the delegation had the opportunity to informally exchange with several Members of Parliament in both countries, where matters such as the bilateral relationship and the importance of parliamentary exchanges were highlighted and expanded upon.
The report will be available once it has been tabled in the House of Commons.