EUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 889: Breve til Det Europæiske Råd, det østrigske formandskab og formanden for eurogruppen vedr. de nationale parlamenters forslag om åbenhed

Europaudvalget 2017-18
EUU Alm.del Bilag 889
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PLENARY MEETING OF THE LIX COSAC

17-19 June 2018, Sofia

CONTRIBUTION OF THE LIX COSAC

EU PARLIAMENTS AND CITIZENS

1.1. COSAC underlines the essential role of national Parliaments in the functioning of the

European Union and places great importance on their good cooperation with the

European Parliament. As representatives of the European citizens, they have a crucial

role in bringing the European agenda closer to the people and ensuring the efficiency

of the decision-making process.

1.2. COSAC underlines the importance of political education and active engagement of the

citizens in political life, in particular through elections at regional, national and

European level. National Parliaments and the European Parliament encourage all

European citizens to use their democratic rights at all levels, including the need to use

their right to vote in the upcoming European Elections on 23–26 May 2019.

SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

2.1. COSAC welcomes the work of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and

Doing Less More Efficiently and calls on all stakeholders to continue the efforts to

improve the application of subsidiarity and proportionality in the Union. Following the

active participation of the national Parliaments in the COSAC Working Group meeting

on the 26

March 2018, as well as their written contributions throughout the Bulgarian

Presidency, COSAC encourages the parliamentary delegations to continue their

involvement in the future debates on the topic.

2.2. COSAC calls for an early consultation with the national Parliaments at the very

beginning of the EU decision making process, so that the European peoples become

more involved and acquire better understanding of the Union s strategies and future

regulations.

2.3. While in general the Subsidiarity Early Warning System provides a good opportunity

for national Parliaments to make their voice heard, there are still aspects that could

and should be improved without changing the treaties, as noted in the contributions

of the LIV and LV COSAC.

EUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 889: Breve til Det Europæiske Råd, det østrigske formandskab og formanden for eurogruppen vedr. de nationale parlamenters forslag om åbenhed

2.4. More specifically, COSAC reiterates its invitation to the European Commission to

consider excluding certain periods from the 8-week deadline provided by the treaties

for a subsidiarity check, in the same manner as the current arrangement regarding

the month of August. Such a period could be the mid-December to New Year break,

as suggested by the Contribution of LIV and LV COSAC, as well as other recess periods

that might be further discussed. In addition, possible modalities for an extension of

the 8 weeks deadline should be further explored with a view to extending the deadline

to 12 weeks.

2.5. While recognizing the right of each Parliament/Chamber to come up with their own

process of subsidiarity scrutiny, COSAC calls for a strengthened cooperation and

coordination between national Parliaments in order to maximize the results of their

efforts.

2.6. COSAC underlines the importance of improving the way national Parliaments

scrutinise their Governments as well as reinforcing the democratic rights of EU citizens

and notes the need to increase transparency of the Council decision-making. COSAC

encourages national parliamentary delegations to address the issue of EU

transparency, especially of the Council, with their respective governments, in

accordance with their national constitutional framework and practices.

2.7. With reference to paragraph 2.8 of the contribution of the LVIII Plenary COSAC on the

issue of transparency, COSAC invites the Council and related bodies to further reflect

via a point by point answer on the proposals that were sent to the EU institutions by

26 national parliaments/chambers enhancing the openness of legislative

deliberations at EU-level.

2.8. COSAC invites the European Commission to improve the quality of its responses to

national Parliaments contributions,

by providing clear and timely answers to their

objections. COSAC reiterates its invitation to the European Commission to respond to

national Parliaments reasoned opinions no later than 8 weeks after the subsidiarity-

check deadline. Periods referred to in Article 2.3 of this Contribution should be taken

into consideration.

2.9. The co-legislators are expected to take better notice of the opinions expressed by the

national Parliaments, given that they contribute actively to the good functioning of the

Union, as stated by Art. 12 of the Treaty on the European Union.

2.10. COSAC calls on the European Commission to provide better impact assessments

within the explanatory memoranda of its legislative proposals in order to justify them

EUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 889: Breve til Det Europæiske Råd, det østrigske formandskab og formanden for eurogruppen vedr. de nationale parlamenters forslag om åbenhed

properly. COSAC also invites the Commission, in addition to its analysis on principle of

subsidiarity, to better elaborate its choice of legal base and its view on the principle of

proportionality.

2.11. COSAC recalls its suggestions included in previous contributions regarding the

introduction of a green card mechanism as part of an enhanced dialogue

that could

submit to the European Commission proposals to initiate legislation, as well as

amending and repealing existing EU legislation and encourages national Parliaments

to continue

exploring future possibilities of using green card initiatives.

2.12. COSAC calls for a better use of the existing political dialogue mechanisms between

national Parliaments and the EU institutions.

INTEGRATION AND CONNECTIVITY OF THE WESTERN BALKANS

3.1. COSAC welcomes the European perspective of the Western Balkans with a strong

focus on connectivity of the region and improvement of its links with the EU Single

market as a strategic central priority of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the

EU.

3.2. COSAC regards the Communication from the Commission of 6 February 2018 for 'A

credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western

Balkans', as an investment in a stable, strong and united Europe based on common

values and on the full respect for the European Convention for the Protection of

Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

3.3. COSAC takes positive note of the reports on the Western Balkans partners and Turkey

from 17th of April 2018 and of the conclusions and recommendations therein. COSAC

underlines the importance of support and guidance to the partners from the region

to pursue the necessary reforms.

3.4. COSAC stresses that progress towards EU accession is based on the respect for the EU

values and on the merit-based individual performance of the partners from the region

to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the conditionality of the Stabilisation and

Association Process; emphasises the importance of the full alignment with the

Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU.

3.5. While acknowledging the progress made by the Western Balkans, COSAC underlines

that more efforts are needed to accelerate domestic reform processes and achieve

irreversible and sustainable results, notably in the areas of rule of law, fight against

EUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 889: Breve til Det Europæiske Råd, det østrigske formandskab og formanden for eurogruppen vedr. de nationale parlamenters forslag om åbenhed

corruption and organized crime, human rights, freedom of expression and

independence of media, strengthening the democratic institutions and public

administration reform, economic development and competitiveness, as well as good

neighbourly relations, thereby increasing stability and ensuring prosperity in the

region.

3.6. COSAC notes that continued steady efforts are needed to tackle outstanding bilateral

disputes in the region, including border disputes, in order to ensure that they do not

have a detrimental effect on the accession process. COSAC stresses that the

outstanding disputes and issues should be solved in line with international law and

established principles, including through implementation of legally binding

agreements.

3.7. In line with the respective Council Conclusions on 22 March, COSAC welcomes the EU's

unequivocal commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans

reaffirmed with the Sofia Declaration from 17th of May 2018. The EU parliaments

expressed their support in this regard at the Interparliamentary Conference for

CFSP/CSDP in Sofia, 15-17 February 2018.

3.8. COSAC expresses its support for the goals, commitments and outcomes of the EU

–

Western Balkans Summit in Sofia and its intense agenda for better and efficient

infrastructure and digital connectivity, as well as contacts between people and

learning opportunities, making the European perspective for the region more tangible,

delivering direct impact and substantial benefits to the people and business from the

region and EU. Implementation of the adopted Sofia Priority Agenda should remain in

the focus of the next Presidencies of the Council.

3.9. COSAC stresses that the threat posed by radicalisation, terrorism and violent

extremism requires EU and partners from the Western Balkans to develop

strengthened mutual cooperation and increased exchange of information and best

practices in the areas of shaping common values, preventing radicalization and

responding to terrorist activities. COSAC also underlines that joined actions are

needed in the field of migration, asylum and border management, the fight against

irregular migration flows and trafficking of human beings.

3.10. COSAC notes that parliamentary oversight of the pre-accession and negotiation

process bestows on them greater democratic legitimacy, increasing the transparency

of the process and improving the strategic communication with the public on all EU

matters. In light of this, COSAC declares its general support for increased and stronger

EUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 889: Breve til Det Europæiske Råd, det østrigske formandskab og formanden for eurogruppen vedr. de nationale parlamenters forslag om åbenhed

involvement of the Western Balkans Parliaments in COSAC work and activities in the

future.

4. COHESION POLICY AFTER 2020

4.1. COSAC takes note of the

European Commission s proposal of May 2, 2018: A modern

budget for a Union that protects empowers and defends , i.e. the Multiannual

Financial Framework 2021-2027. Acknowledging the proposal as a good starting point

for negotiation, COSAC finds important that the MFF 2021-2027 should be linked to a

comprehensive long-term policy strategy for the development of the European Union

and for the revival of public investment both at European and national level. It is

important to take Member States

different positions

on the budgetary frame into

consideration.

4.2. COSAC supports the continuation of the Cohesion Policy beyond 2020 with a

commitment to maintain adequate levels of funding that will allow for the completion

of its goals. As the Cohesion Policy is a key solidarity tool for stimulating the

convergence between the Member States and their regions, COSAC underlines that,

via its instruments, accelerator and multiplier effect of the investments would be

achieved and regional disparities - tackled. Furthermore, it is important that all regions

shall profit from the Cohesion policy, while the most underdeveloped remain its

primary target.

4.3. COSAC points out that the real investments in growth, employment and balanced

territorial development, must stay in the focus of the Cohesion Policy post 2020,

remaining mostly in the form of grants. New tasks and objectives should not be

financed to the detriment of the Cohesion Policy.

4.4. COSAC appeals for a result-oriented, effective and efficient Cohesion Policy in the

Programming Period 2021-2027, transparently assessing the concrete impact and the

sustainability of the projects at local and regional level with regard to the European

added value, rather than simply monitoring the costs and productivity.

4.5. COSAC calls for an improvement of the main deficiencies in the Cohesion Policy

implementation, such as the long and complex administrative procedures, the lack of

flexibility when managing the projects and the procedure of co-financing.

EUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 889: Breve til Det Europæiske Råd, det østrigske formandskab og formanden for eurogruppen vedr. de nationale parlamenters forslag om åbenhed

ЕU

Macro-regional strategies

4.6. Taking into account the role of the EU macro-regions in achieving sustainable

development, security and prosperity, COSAC underlines that EU macro-regional

strategies are an important platform for cooperation with invaluable and innovative

contribution and should be further developed.

4.7. COSAC recognizes the need to improve the interrelation between the EU Strategy for

the Danube Region and the cross-border cooperation in the Black Sea Region to

overcome common challenges in the wider region.

4.8. COSAC underlines the importance of interconnectivity within the EU. Therefore,

COSAC emphasises that firm commitment for successful and timely implementation

of any trans-border projects to that end are vitally important for the EU and its citizens.

A special consideration should be paid to the development of transport infrastructure

and the expansion of the EU transport network; in this regard, macro regional

strategies provide a good basis for the streamlining of multilateral efforts.

5. EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS

5.1. COSAC underlines that a reinforcement of the social dimension of the EU is vital in

order to uphold the Treaty social objectives and ensure that European citizens identify

with, and see the benefits of, the European project.

5.2. COSAC supports that a strong and solid European Pillar of Social Rights that aims to

promote and enhance the existing social standards and principles is a shared

responsibility of the EU and the

Member States. The initiatives to deliver on the Pillar s

objectives should be based on specific tools, further legislative actions, efficient policy-

making mechanisms and financial instruments, subject to the next EU Budget

negotiations.

5.3. COSAC emphasises that against the backdrop of an ageing and declining population,

the globalisation, technical progress and digitalisation of societies and economies, the

ongoing transformation of jobs and tasks as a consequence, it is crucial to invest in

human capital to ensure productivity growth, high social standards and job-rich and

robust economies, as well as adequate social protection systems.

5.4. COSAC stresses the importance of access to quality and inclusive education, training

and lifelong learning in order to maintain and acquire the relevant skills needed for

full participation in society and in the labour market in transition.

EUU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 889: Breve til Det Europæiske Råd, det østrigske formandskab og formanden for eurogruppen vedr. de nationale parlamenters forslag om åbenhed

5.5. COSAC highlights that equality of treatment and opportunities, in particular between

women and men, should be enhanced in all areas, including participation in the labour

market, terms and conditions of employment, career progression and equal pay for

work of equal value, including measures that favour a good work-life balance.

5.6. COSAC recognizes the crucial role of social dialogue and stresses that social partners

must be closely involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of policies

according to national and EU provisions.

5.7. COSAC takes note of the 29th Bi-annual Report where according to the National

Parliaments/Chambers among the most appropriate tools for implementation and

monitoring of the European Pillar of Social Rights are a strengthened European

Semester reflecting the Pillar`s principles and EU funding instruments designed to

support the reforms on the national level.