Parliament hosts conference on data analysis

AMMAN — Parliament on Tuesday hosted secretaries general from Arab and European countries for a conference to explore different methods of parliamentary research and how to provide MPs with the best information possible. 

The two-day conference, titled: "Parliamentary Research Services — Improving Legislation through Specialised and Independent Data Analysis", was organised by the Lower House secretariat in cooperation with the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union secretariat, the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (KAS), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Lower House’s First Deputy Speaker Nassar Qaisi said that civil society organisations often emphasise the role of research centres, which help enact key laws that serve national interests.

Qaisi highlighted the Lower House's cooperation with civil society organisations which provide Parliament with studies and research. He added that the Lower House established the Legislative Studies and Research Centre to provide an accurate source of information for legislative action.

During the conference, Secretary General of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union Fayez Shawabkeh called for establishing independent parliamentary research centres to integrate the principles of democracy and equality.

Secretary General of the Lower House Firas Adwan noted that' MPs, roles and responsibilities are now maximised at the national and international levels.

KAS Resident Representative to Jordan Annette Ranko said that the foundation aims at enhancing cooperation between Germany and the Middle East in addition to bolstering Arab-European dialogue.

For his part, head of the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace Antoine Messara underlined secretariats’ roles in administration, preserving heritage and conducting studies and research.