“Parliaments must evolve from legislative arenas into bridges between citizens and global decision-making.”

Amid shifting geopolitical alignments, technological disruption, and changing citizen expectations, the role of parliaments in global governance remains underestimated. Yet representative institutions are essential for safeguarding democratic legitimacy, human rights, and justice within the multilateral system.

Using the European Parliament as a case study, this contribution explores how parliaments can adapt to a new global order while remaining close to the people they represent. Drawing on the European Parliament’s engagement in the United Nations context—including its involvement in the Pact for the Future negotiations—the talk highlights how parliaments can strengthen their international relevance without losing democratic credibility. Rather than proposing institutional reform, it identifies transferable lessons for parliamentary institutions worldwide seeking to remain responsive, people-centered, and meaningful in an era of global change.