Members of parliament and members of the steering committees of the international TA institutes met on 17 and 18 October 2022 for the EPTA Council in Berlin's parliamentary district to exchange views on activities and the further development of the network and to strengthen the dialogue between science and politics. The invitation was extended by the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment together with the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag, which holds the EPTA presidency this year.

EPTA grows

At the EPTA Council meeting on October 18 in the Europa Hall of the Paul Löbe House, two new members were admitted:

(1) The Cellule Scientifique of the Chambre des Députés of Luxembourg, established in 2021. Luxembourg is now a full EPTA member. 

(2) The Oficina Científica de Asesoramiento Legislativo (OCAL) of the Parliament of Argentina, established in 2020. Argentina is now an associate member. 

"If EPTA didn't exist, it would have to be invented".

The symbolic handover of the EPTA presidency to Catalonia next year already took place on the eve following the EPTA conference "Disruption in society - TA to the rescue?" on October 17.

"If EPTA did not exist, it would have to be invented," said Kai Gehring, Chair of ABFTA, in his short keynote speech about the important role of parliamentary technology assessment and international cooperation in solving the multiple crises and challenges of the present. Alba Verges i Bosch, Vice-President of the Parliament of Catalonia, who assumed the presidency for 2023 on behalf of the Catalan EPTA member (CAPCIT), emphasized the enormous importance that international cooperation in the EPTA network has, especially for the Europe of the Regions. She also extended a warm invitation to continue the dialogue in Barcelona in 2023.

The dialogue between science and politics continues

The handover was rounded off by a reception in the House of the German Parliamentary Society with a greeting from the Vice-President of the German Bundestag, Petra Pau, who noted that "the exchange between members of parliament and with scientists in technology assessment is a prime example of European cooperation - also as an expression of a community of values that strives to make decisions as knowledge-based as possible".

The EPTA family is looking forward to exchanging ideas with its new members at the next meetings in Catalonia in 2023.

Links

• Image gallery of EPTA Council events
• Conference website "Disruption in society - TA to the rescue?"