Commonwealth Speakers, Members and parliamentary staff from the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean (BIM) Region have attended the annual Regional Conference, which was this year held in Cardiff, Wales from 17 to 20 June 2025.

The 54th CPA BIM Regional Conference focused on the theme of ‘Addressing the Needs of a Modern Parliament’ and delegates shared their own Legislatures’ experiences as they participated in the discussions.

Delegates from 13 Parliaments and Legislatures across the CPA BIM Region - plus observers from CPA Western Cape (South Africa) and CPA Québec (Canada) - heard from panellists on a range of topics including utilising digital technology and Artificial Intelligence in Parliaments, supporting Parliamentarians with their mental health, lessons from Youth Parliaments and effective political participation of persons with disabilities.

Parliamentarians and officials were welcomed to the CPA Regional Conference by the CPA Wales Branch President, Hon. Elin Jones MS, Llywydd (Presiding Officer) of the Welsh Parliament (Senedd); the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Senedd, Dr Manon Antoniazzi and the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg.

The Llywydd (Presiding Officer) of the Welsh Parliament, Hon. Elin Jones, MS said that it was a great honour for the CPA Wales Branch to host the CPA BIM Regional Conference, which is a valuable opportunity to share insights and knowledge with Parliamentarians from across the Region.

“Bore da - Croeso. I’m delighted, both as Llywydd and as President of our CPA Branch, that the Senedd is once again hosting the 54th CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Regional Conference. It’s been over a decade since we last hosted the BIM Regional Conference and much has changed since then. For example, we’ve changed our name from the National Assembly for Wales to Senedd Cymru/the Welsh Parliament - and extended the voting franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds.

This BIM Regional Conference is being held on the theme of ‘Addressing the Needs of a Modern Parliament’. Being a young Parliament, we pride ourselves on being able to innovate, unburdened by historic conventions, learning from the old and able to adapt to the new.”

The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg updated Members on the CPA’s International Status, consultation on the new CPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 and CPA activities during the year ahead.

“We are hugely grateful to the CPA Wales Branch for their hosting of the CPA Regional Conference on behalf of the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region. Delegates have benefited from some excellent discussions this week and the Region goes from strength to strength.”

The launch of the CPA BIM Regional LGBT+ Network also took place at the CPA Regional Conference in Cardiff alongside a workshop session highlighting the importance of LGBT+ voices in Parliament. The new regional network will bring together LGBT+ Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth to promote their participation in all aspects of parliamentary life.

Welsh Member of Senedd, Hon. Adam Price, MS said:

"Visibility is absolutely critical for the LGBT+ community. We need to hear and see our voices within Parliaments. There is so much more work to be done on a global scale until we ensure equality for all LGBT+ people across the Commonwealth.”

The CPA Regional Conference programme also included the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region’s Annual General Meeting and the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarians (CWP) Regional Steering Committee.

Members were also updated on the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network by the Regional Champion, Jeremy Balfour, MSP (Scotland) during a session on Parliaments and disabilities.

Representatives from many CPA Branches were in attendance including Scotland, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Malta, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Members from the Chief Pleas in Sark (Sark’s legislative body) attended their first CPA Regional Conference ahead of their application to become a CPA Branch going to the CPA General Assembly later this year.

For more images of the 54th CPA BIM Regional Conference please click here.

The CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region is one of the nine Regions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. It consists of thirteen Legislatures, from the United Kingdom, one of the largest Parliaments in the Commonwealth, to Alderney, one of the the smallest. The Regional Secretariat is based within the CPA UK Branch, and undertakes a number of programmes, including Election Observation Missions to Crown Dependencies and UK Overseas Territories.

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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