EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 404: Referat af Trojka-møde og COSAC-møde 3-5/3-22 i Paris

Europaudvalget 2021-22
EUU Alm.del Bilag 404
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TROIKA OF COSAC

ARIS

, F

RANCE

, 3 M

ARCH

2022

PRESENT AT THE MEETING

CHAIR: Ms Sabine THILLAYE, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the

French

Assemblée nationale,

Mr Jean-François RAPIN, Chair of the European Affairs

Committee of the French

Sénat;

Mr Jaroslav B�½OCH, Deputy Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Czech

Poslanecká sněmovna,

Mr David SMOLJAK, Chair of the European Affairs Committee

of the Czech

Senát;

Mr Nik PREBIL, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Slovenian

Državni zbor,

Mr Bojan KEKEC, Chair of the Committee for International Relations

and European Affairs, Slovenian

Državni svet;

Mr Othmar KARAS, First Vice-President, European Parliament;

Mr Antonio TAJANI, Chair of the Committee for Constitutional Affairs, European

Parliament, was unable to attend.

AGENDA

PROCEEDINGS

1. Adoption of the agenda of the Meeting of the Presidential Troika of COSAC

2. Approval of the draft programme of the LXVII COSAC

3. Presentation of the 37th Bi-annual report of COSAC

4. Item on the composition and activities of working groups

5. Projected hearings and other activities of COSAC under the French Presidency

6. Methods of reporting to European institutions on the work of the Plenary meeting of COSAC

7. Letters received by the Presidency

8. Draft statement on Ukraine

9. Any other business

EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 404: Referat af Trojka-møde og COSAC-møde 3-5/3-22 i Paris

PROCEEDINGS

1. A

DOPTION

COSAC

OF THE AGENDA OF THE

EETING

OF THE

RESIDENTIAL

ROIKA

Ms Sabine THILLAYE, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the French

Assemblée nationale,

welcomed the delegations of the Presidential Troika of COSAC

(hereinafter referred to as "the Troika") to Paris, highlighting the improvement in the

sanitary situation, which allows for the organisation of the COSAC plenary meeting in a

physical format. Ms THILLAYE also warmly congratulated Mr Othmar KARAS for his

recent nomination as First Vice-President of the European Parliament (EP), expressing

the wish to continue the fruitful cooperation with the EP.

She then alluded to the tragical context in which the LXVII COSAC took place,

emphasizing that the Russian military aggression against Ukraine was an attack to the

values that unite the Europeans, namely democracy, freedom and peace, considering

that it represented a confrontation between power and law, and concluding that the

respect for the latter should always be a priority for the European Union, as community

based on law. For that reason, and considering that the European security should be

debated at the LXVII COSAC, Ms THILLAYE informed the Troika that a new debate

on Ukraine had been added to the draft agenda and that the adoption of a declaration on

this issue was foreseen.

She then referred to the agenda of the meeting of the Troika, which had been previously

circulated to all delegations, and was adopted without amendment.

2. A

PPROVAL OF THE DRAFT PROGRAMME OF THE

LXVII COSAC

Ms THILLAYE alluded to the programme of the LVXII Plenary meeting, revised as to

include the debate on Ukraine and with a change in the time foreseen for the

intervention of the Prime Minister of France, Mr Jean CASTEX.

Therefore, the programme of the LXVII COSAC meeting would be split into six

sessions:

Session I – First assessment of the French Presidency of the Council of the

European Union

Session II – Recovery plan for Europe and end of crisis

Session III – Climate change and energy transition

Session IV – Conference on the Future of Europe

Session V – Progress reports from the working groups

Session VI – Debate on Ukraine

The draft programme of the LXVII COSAC Plenary meeting, previously circulated to

all delegations, was approved without amendment.

EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 404: Referat af Trojka-møde og COSAC-møde 3-5/3-22 i Paris

3. P

RESENTATION OF THE

ANNUAL REPORT OF

COSAC

Ms THILLAYE referred to the 37th Bi-annual Report of COSAC, which was drafted on

the basis of replies to the related questionnaire circulated to national

Parliaments/Chambers on 17 January 2022, with a deadline on 31 January for

submitting replies. The report consisted of three chapters: the first dealing with the role

of national Parliaments in the European Union; the second focusing on the rule of law;

and the third dedicated to the Conference on the Future of Europe, due to hold its final

plenary session in spring 2022.

Ms THILLAYE showed a short video clip produced by the Permanent Member of the

COSAC Secretariat, Mr Bruno DIAS PINHEIRO, showcasing some of the results of the

report, and thanked him for his work. Mr DIAS PINHEIRO was given the floor to

present the report, emphasizing the work done by the COSAC Secretariat in the very

short period of time given to draft the report, and expressing the expectation that the

findings of the report might prove useful not only for the COSAC Plenary but also for

the works in the months ahead.

4. I

TEM ON THE COMPOSITION AND ACTIVITIES OF WORKING GROUPS

Ms THILLAYE provided a state of play on the activities of the two working groups

(WGs) established by the French Presidency, highlighting that the first results had

exceeded the expectations, with 42 Members joining the WG on the role of national

Parliaments and 44 joining the WG on the place of values at the heart of the sense of

belonging to the EU. To date, each of the WGs held two meetings, one dedicated to a

general exchange of views amongst Members and the second one to a hearing of

experts. Furthermore, Ms THILLAYE detailed that each WG was expected to have

about six additional meetings until the end of the French Presidency, with the final

meeting scheduled for 14 June, in Paris and in presential. On this occasion, the WGs

will be convened to possibly adopt, by consensus, their draft reports.

Mr Jean-François RAPIN, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the French

Sénat,

mentioned that the high level of participation in the first meetings was

encouraging. Referring that it was still early for any conclusions, he considered that the

experience has been positive, expressing his wish that it might last at least until the end

of May, allowing for the drafting of an interesting report, which could motivate the

incoming Presidencies to further deepen these debates. Mr RAPIN also mentioned that

one of the most valued benefits of this exchange was the freedom of the debates and

spirit of a true dialogue.

Ms THILLAYE added that the WGs were also allowing for a better knowledge and

understanding between parliamentarians.

5. P

ROJECTED

RESIDENCY

HEARINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OF

COSAC

UNDER THE

RENCH

EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 404: Referat af Trojka-møde og COSAC-møde 3-5/3-22 i Paris

Ms THILLAYE referred to the activities within the framework of COSAC after the

Plenary meeting, namely to continue the practice inaugurated by the previous

Presidencies of organizing informal hearings of personalities by videoconference. This

could include meetings with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der

Leyen, and with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, if they would

accept the invitation. Furthermore, she mentioned a possible visit to the Court of Justice

of the EU (CJEU), for an exchange with the President and the Judges on the latest

activities and jurisprudence of the Court, which could also take place in format to be

determined (presence, hybrid or virtual).

Mr KARAS welcomed the ideas presented and the deepening of the coordination

between Parliaments, alluding also to the role of the COSAC Secretariat in these

exchanges of information. Regarding the proposal of a visit to the CJUE, he considered

that the recent rulings regarding the rule of law conditionality and its implementation

were very important. For that reason, he noted that this visit would be a very good

initiative to foster a better understanding of these matters.

Mr Jean-François RAPIN expressed his support for this proposal, mentioning the work

done at the French

Sénat

on these issues, especially the ongoing information mission on

the judicialization of politics, which included a hearing of the French judge of the

CJEU.

These proposals were approved and the Presidency would follow up on them in due

course.

6. M

ETHODS OF REPORTING TO

UROPEAN

LENARY MEETING OF

COSAC

INSTITUTIONS ON THE WORK OF THE

Ms THILLAYE informed the meeting that, according to the procedure followed by the

previous Slovenian Presidency, a letter of the Presidency would be addressed to the

European Commission, to the Council and to the EP with a summary of the main

outcomes of the debates during the LXVII COSAC Plenary meeting, which would also

include a reference to the statement on Ukraine.

Mr Nik PREBIL, Deputy Chair of the Committee on EU Affairs, Slovenian

Državni

zbor,

acknowledged that this approach was indeed followed by the previous Presidency

because of the limitations imposed by the pandemic. However, and given that the

meetings are resuming their physical format, he noted that the previous practice of

sending actual contributions of the COSAC plenary meeting to the EU institutions

should also be reinstated.

Ms THILLAYE agreed with this proposal, noting that the approach followed by the

French Presidency was due to the fact that until the very last moment there was no

certainty whether the Plenary meeting could be held in person or not.

EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 404: Referat af Trojka-møde og COSAC-møde 3-5/3-22 i Paris

7. L

ETTERS RECEIVED BY THE

RESIDENCY

Ms THILLAYE referred to the following letters received by the Presidency requesting

invitation to attend the COSAC meetings:

Mr Benedikt WÜRTH, President of the Swiss delegation for relations with the

European Parliament, Swiss

Assemblée fédérale;

Mr Masud GHARAHKHANI, President of the Norwegian

Stortinget;

Lord Charles KINNOULL, Chair of the European Union Committee, UK

House

of Lords;

Sir William CASH, Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, UK

House of

Commons;

Ms Maka BOTCHORISHVILI, Chair of the Committee on European Integration

of the

Parliament of Georgia;

Mr Pere LOPEZ AGRAS, Chair of the legislative committee of the

General

Council

of Andorra;

Ms Rrezarta KRASNIQI, Chairwoman of the Committee on European

Integration, Kosovo

Kuvendi i Kosovës;

Mr Bjarni JÓNSSON, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the

Icelandic

Althingi;

Mr Stéphane VALERI, President of the

Conseil national

of Monaco.

Ms THILLAYE said that, following consultation with the Presidential Troika,

invitations had been sent to all the above Parliaments.

8. D

RAFT STATEMENT ON

KRAINE

Ms THILLAYE presented the draft statement regarding the situation in Ukraine

prepared by the Presidency and previously circulated to all Troika members, identifying

the main points addressed therein: condemning the Russian military aggression, calling

on Russia to allow access for humanitarian aid, calling for a cease-fire and a withdrawal

of Russian forces, including the end to cyberattacks, to welcome the sanctions adopted

This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244(1999) and

the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

EUU, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 404: Referat af Trojka-møde og COSAC-møde 3-5/3-22 i Paris

by the EU, inviting the EU to organise itself welcoming the inflow of refugees,

affirming the need to involve Parliaments in the decision making process in the

management of this crisis, deepening the Common Security and Defence Policy of the

EU and enhancing its strategic autonomy.

She further explained that, if an agreement on the content were to be found, this

declaration would be endorsed by the Troika and then circulated to all delegations, so

that the respective Heads or Chairpersons could co-sign it, before it was sent to the EU

institutions.

Mr Jaroslav B�½OCH considered that the declaration should mention not only Russia,

but also Belarus, which sides with Moscow in this conflict.

Mr KARAS congratulated the Presidency on this initiative, since it showed a key and

united message from COSAC to the outside. He suggested that the declaration was

given a concrete title and also asked for a mention to the EP Resolution of 1 March

2022 on the Russian aggression against Ukraine

, which was adopted by an

overwhelming majority of 637 votes in favour.

Mr Nik PREBIL proposed that a specific reference to the positions and resolutions

issued by national Parliaments on this matter would be included in the statement and

also supported the inclusion of a title.

After a short exchange on the adequate title, Ms THILLAYE informed that it would be

named

“Statement in support of Ukraine attacked by the Russian Federation”,

Furthermore, she noted that the references to Belarus would be enshrined in the relevant

paragraphs of the statement and that a reference to the EP resolution of 1 March 2022

would also be added.

The statement was endorsed by the Troika of COSAC and would then be circulated to

all delegations for co-signing.

9. A

NY OTHER BUSINESS

Ms THILLAYE thanked all participants in the meeting for the constructive debate and

closed the meeting.

Available at

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0052_EN.html