SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – The President of Parliament, the Hon. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, participated in the 17th Plenary Session of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat), which took place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, from October 26-29, 2026.
The President took part in the preparatory meetings of the Latin American Component of the EuroLat platform on October 26, during which the component made preparations for participation in the four Committee meetings.
The President, who is a member of the Committee on Sustainable Development, Environment, Energy Policy, Research, Innovation and Technology, via Parlatino, participated in discussions on ‘Safeguarding Biodiversity and Sustainable Ecosystem Management’, as well as ‘Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development regarding Opportunities and Challenges for EU-LAC Bi-Regional Cooperation’.
She also delivered an intervention during the presentation by Mr. Gonzalo Piernavieja Izquierdo, Director of Research, Development, and Innovation at the Technological Institute of the Canary Islands (ITC), regarding energy transition in small island states like Sint Maarten and the Canary Islands.
The EuroLat meeting also included a Solemn Opening Session on Wednesday, October 28, held in the Plenary Hall of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, during which messages were delivered by, inter alia, Ms. Astrid Pérez, President of the Canary Islands Parliament, and Ms. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament.
President Wescot-Williams also participated in the Euro-Latin American Women’s Forum, which discussed ‘Violence Against Women in the Family Setting: Preventing and Addressing Vicarious Violence’, and the topic of ‘Women and Democracy: Protecting Political Participation Against Disinformation’.
During her intervention, the President emphasized that, as more women attain representative functions, it is important that we enable them to work together to address issues affecting women.
The 17th Plenary Session concluded with a Solemn Commemoration Session at the Canary Islands Parliament on Thursday, October 29, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, with the participation of former EuroLat Co-Presidents.
