EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 426: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet 24-26/3-24 i Bruxelles

Europaudvalget 2023-24
EUU Alm.del Bilag 426
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE LXXI COSAC

RUSSELS

, B

ELGIUM

, 24 - 26 M

ARCH

2024

Note:

The text of keynote interventions which have been shared with the Presidency will be

published on IPEX. A video recording of the full meeting is available via the webpage of the

Parliamentary Dimension of the Belgian Presidency.

PENING

ESSION

Ms Eliane TILLIEUX, Speaker of the Belgian Chambre des représentants/Kamer van

volksvertegenwoordigers and Co-Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee on European

Affairs gave a welcome address, followed by a welcome address by Mr Gaëtan VAN

GOIDSENHOVEN, Member of the Belgian

Sénat/Senaat

and Co-Chair of the Federal

Advisory Committee on European Affairs.

The floor was then given to Mr Othmar KARAS, First Vice-President, European Parliament

for welcome remarks on behalf of Ms Roberta METSOLA, President of the European

Parliament.

ROCEDURAL ISSUES AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

Ms TILLIEUX welcomed Mr Zoltán TESSELY, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs

of the Hungarian

Országgyűlés,

who attended COSAC for the first time as Chair. She went on

to refer to the

draft programme of the plenary meeting of the LXXI COSAC,

which was

adopted without amendments. She then gave a short report from the Troika meeting the

previous day. She furthermore recalled the letters received by the Presidency, which were made

available on

IPEX.

She went on to explain that, as a response to the

letter

from Ms Ivanna

KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE, Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s integration into the EU of

the Ukrainian

Verkhovna Rada,

which contained a request to put forward a joint statement on

Ukraine, the Troika had proposed to integrate parts of the proposed text into the draft

Contribution from COSAC. Furthermore, regarding the

letter

from several heads of delegation

asking that Ukraine be put on the agenda of LXXI COSAC, she pointed out that Ms

KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE had been invited to take the floor as a keynote speaker during

Session I of the meeting. Ms TILLIEUX also referred to the

letter

on accessibility of

information, and pointed out that much of the content of the letter had equally been integrated

into the draft Contribution.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 426: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet 24-26/3-24 i Bruxelles

During this point, Mr Yde Johan VAN HIJUM, of the Dutch

Tweede Kamer,

took the floor to

inform that there were some further remarks regarding accessibility of information, which he

would like to see added to the draft Contribution.

ESSION

I - R

EVIEW OF THE

2019-2024 E

UROPEAN

EGISLATURE

PROSPECTS FOR THE

OUNCIL

’

S STRATEGIC AGENDA FOR

2024-2029

The session was chaired by Mr VAN GOIDSENHOVEN.

AND

The session began with keynote interventions by Mr Georges GILKLINET, Belgian Deputy

Prime Minister and Minister of Mobility, and by Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE.

During the ensuing debate, 25 speakers took the floor.

Members discussed a variety of topics during this session. Almost all of them referred to

Russia’s war against Ukraine, and initiatives to support Ukraine were widely debated.

Challenges to the security situation in Europe were similarly broadly addressed, as was the

enlargement process, which was referred to by all speakers from candidate countries. Among

other topics, the rule of law, migration policies, competitiveness, proposals for reforms of the

EU and the Treaties, and the need to continue addressing the challenge of climate change, were

mentioned. Some speakers also took the opportunity to make a brief recapitulation of the five

past years, since the last elections to the European Parliament, and the challenges Europe has

faced since then.

The following speakers took the floor during this debate:

Mr Francisco José CONDE LÓPEZ (Spanish

Cortes Generales),

Mr Domènec RUIZ

DEVESA (European Parliament), Mr Heikki AUTTO (Finnish

Eduskunta),

Mr Michał

KOBOSKO (Polish

Sejm),

Ms Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ (Lithuanian

Seimas),

Ms Louise MOREL (French

Assemblée nationale),

Mr Giulio TERZI DI

SANT’AGATA (Italian

Senato della Repubblica),

Mr Hans WALLMARK (Swedish

Riksdag),

Mr Zoltán TESSELY (Hungarian

Országgyűlés),

Mr Anton HOFREITER (German

Bundestag),

Ms Lucija TACER (Slovenian

Državni zbor),

Mr Ján FERENČÁK (Slovak

Národná rada),

Mr Dimitrios KOUVELAS (Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon),

Mr Harris

GEORGIADES (Cyprus

Vouli ton Antiprosopon),

Mr Rihard KOLS (Latvian

Saeima),

Martin ENGELBERG (Austrian

Nationalrat),

Mr Evangelos Vasileios MEIMARAKIS

(European Parliament), Mr Fernand KARTHEISER (Luxembourg

Chambre des Députés),

Laura CASTEL FORT (Spanish

Cortes Generales),

Mr Jani KOKKO (Finnish

Eduskunta),

Jean-François RAPIN (French

Sénat),

Mr Alessandro GIGLIO VIGNA (Italian

Camera dei

Deputati),

Mr David KLOBASA (Slovenian

Državni svet),

Mr Seán HAUGHEY (Irish

Houses

of the Oireachtas),

Ms Maka BOTCHORISHVILI (Georgian

Sakartvelos p'arlament'I),

Ina C

OȘERU

(Moldovan

Parlamentul Republicii),

Ms Erisa XHIXHO (Albanian

Kuvendi i

Shqipërisë),

Mr Oğuz ÜÇÜNCÜ (Türkiye

Büyük Millet Meclisi),

Mr Peter RICKETTS (UK

House of Lords)

and Mr Arman YEGHOYAN (Armenian

Azgayin Zhoghov).

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 426: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet 24-26/3-24 i Bruxelles

ESSION

II - G

ENDER POLICY AND THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AND MEN

IN PARLIAMENT

The session was chaired by Ms TILLIEUX, who in her introductory remarks also informed

delegations that a Joint Declaration on more gender-sensitive parliaments would be circulated

for co-signing after the conclusion of LXXI COSAC. The declaration would be based on the

text on gender policy and the representation of women and men in parliament which was

included in the draft Contribution.

The session began with keynote interventions by Ms Marie-Colline LEROY, Belgian Secretary

of State for Gender Equality, Equality Opportunities and Diversity; Ms Latifa GAHOUCHI,

Belgian Senator and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for women and

men; Ms Agnes HUBERT, Founding Member of Gender5+ and Professor at the College of

Europe; and Ms Maruša Gortnar, Head of Research and Policy Support Unit at the European

Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).

The ensuing debate was held in a direct question-and-answer format, allowing for one question

at a time from the floor, followed by replies from the keynote speakers.

During the ensuing debate, 23 speakers took the floor.

During the debate, the lack of representation of women in society in general and politics in

particular was discussed. Particular emphasis was put on their underrepresentation in national

parliaments, as well as at the local and regional policy levels. The economic, social and cultural

obstacles to the full participation of women were raised. Whether, and how, quotas could be

used to advance the representation of women in politics was also subject to discussion. The

debate also concerned initiatives at an EU level, particularly in light of the upcoming elections

to the European Parliament in June 2024. The participation of men in gender equality

discussions was also raised.

The following speakers took the floor during this debate:

Mr Pere Joan PONS (Spanish

Cortes Generales),

Mr Marc ANGEL (European Parliament),

Ms Milagros MARCOS ORTEGA (Spanish

Cortes Generales),

Ms Christine SCHWARZ-

FUCHS (Austrian

Bundesrat),

Ms Marina NIKOLAU (Cyprus

Vouli ton Antiprosopon),

Lucija TACER (Slovenian

Državni zbor),

Ms Elena MURELLI (Italian

Senato della

Repubblica),

Ms Eva Maria HOLZLEITNER (Austrian

Nationalrat),

Mr Robert TROY (Irish

Houses of the Oireachtas),

Mr Tom WEIDIG (Luxembourg

Chambre des Députés),

Ms Adéla

ŠÍPOVÁ (Czech

Senát),

Ms Matilda ERNKRANS (Swedish

Riksdag),

Ms Louise MOREL

(French

Assemblée nationale),

Ms Hanah LAHE (Estonian

Riigikogu),

Mr Algirdas SYSAS

(Lithuanian

Seimas),

Ms Katerina NOTOPOULOU (Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon),

Mr David

KLOBASA (Slovenian

Državni svet),

Mr Ján FERENČÁK (Slovak

Národná rada),

Mr Daniel

RIAZAT (Swedish

Riksdag),

Ms Pranvera RESULAJ (Albanian

Kuvendi i Shqipërisë),

Sona GHAZARYAN (Armenian

Azgayin Zhoghov),

Ms Shqipe ISUFI (Kosovan

Kuvendi i

Kosovës)

and Ms Diljá Mist EINARSDOTTIR (Icelandic

Alþingi).

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 426: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet 24-26/3-24 i Bruxelles

EETING OF THE

COSAC C

HAIRPERSONS

DISCUSSION

ONTRIBUTION AND

ONCLUSIONS OF THE

LXXI COSAC

THE

Mr VAN GOIDSENHOVEN chaired the first part of the meeting, regarding the draft text on

the Conclusions of LXXI COSAC. Following some debate, including one vote on paragraph

8, an amended text of the draft Conclusions was adopted.

Ms TILLIEUX chaired the second part of the meeting, regarding the draft text on the

Contribution of LXXI COSAC. Following some debate, including votes on the amendments,

an amended text of the draft Contribution was adopted.

The adopted texts were put forward for approval by LXXI COSAC during the Closing session

(see below).

ESSION

III - O

PEN

TRATEGIC

UTONOMY

RESILIENCE

COMPETITIVENESS

AND

The session was chaired by Mr VAN GOIDSENHOVEN.

The session began with keynote interventions by Mr Nicolas SCHMIT, European

Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Mr Thierry BRETON, European Commissioner for

the Internal Market and Mr Marek HUDON, Professor at Solvay Brussel School of Economics

and Management.

During the following debate, 33 speakers took the floor.

All members emphasised the importance of European Open Strategic Autonomy by

highlighting its different aspects. Interventions focused, among other things, on the security of

energy supply, a fair and social transition, the prevention of further regulatory burdens, the

need to increase investments in research and development, and education in general, as well as

support for small and medium sized enterprises. Some members also stressed that the goals of

the green transition should not be detrimental to economic competitiveness. The support for

farmers and the agricultural sector was also raised, as well as protecting the European economy

from external negative influences and unfair trade practices.

The following speakers took the floor during this debate:

Mr Péter BALASSA (Hungarian

Országgyűlés),

Mr Salvatore DE MEO (European

Parliament), Mr Pere Joan PONS SAMPIETRO (Spanish

Senado),

Mr Helmut SCHOLZ

(European Parliament), Mr Francisco José CONDE LÓPEZ (Spanish

Congreso de los

Diputados),

Mr Mats LÖFSTRÖM (Finnish

Eduskunta),

Mr Bastiaan VAN APELDOORN

(Dutch

Eerste Kamer),

Mr Miroslav GREGORIČ (Slovenian

Državni zbor),

Ms Christine

THELLMANN (Romanian

Camera Deputaților),

Mr Jonas JARUTIS (Lithuanian

Seimas),

Timo HARAKKA (Finnish

Eduskunta),

Mr Alessandro GIGLIO VIGNA (Italian

Camera dei

Deputati),

Mr Franc BREZNIK (Slovenian

Državni zbor),

Mr Jean-François RAPIN (French

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 426: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet 24-26/3-24 i Bruxelles

Sénat),

Mr Stefanos PARASTATIDIS (Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon),

Mr Ján FERENČÁK (Slovak

Národná rada),

Ms Hélène RYCKMANS (Belgian

Sénat/Senaat),

Mr Ferdinand TIEFNIG

(Austrian

Bundesrat),

Ms Lucija TACER (Slovenian

Državni zbor),

Mr Marc

DEMESMAEKER (Belgian

Sénat/Senaat),

Ms Elena MURELLI (Italian

Senato della

Repubblica),

Mr Constantinos EFSTATHIOU (Cyprus

Vouli ton Antiprosopon),

Ms Jytte

BENGTSSON GUTELAND (Swedish

Riksdag),

Mr Rainer ROBRA (German

Bundesrat),

Vasile DÎNCU (Romanian

Senat),

Mr Chrisis PANTELIDES (Cyprus

Vouli ton

Antiprosopon),

Mr Rihards KOLS (Latvian

Saeima),

Mr Mikko POLVINEN (Finnish

Eduskunta),

Mr Maciej KONIECZNY (Polish

Sejm),

Mr Mihailo ANĐUŠIĆ (Montenegrin

Skupština Crne Gore),

Mr Oğuz ÜÇÜNCÜ (Türkiye

Büyük Millet Meclisi),

Mr Peter

RICKETTS (United Kingdom

House of Lords),

Ms Rrezarta KRASNIQI (Kosovan

Kuvendi).

ESSION

IV - D

EMOCRACY AND THE

ULE OF

AW IN

UROPE

THE WAY AHEAD

The session was chaired by Ms TILLIEUX.

The session began with a keynote intervention by Mr Didier REYNDERS, European

Commissioner for Justice.

The ensuing debate was an interactive session with a panel of experts, moderated by Mr Rob

HEIRBAUT, Belgian journalist specialised in EU matters. The members of the panel began by

delivering a short speech each. This was followed by an interactive debate between the

panellists and Members. The panellists were Mr Koen LENAERTS, President of the Court of

Justice of the European Union; Ms Françoise TULKENS, Professor emeritus at UCL and

former judge and Vice-President at the European Court of Human Rights; and Mr Arnaud VAN

WAEYENBERGE, Professor at HEC Paris and researcher at Center Perelman on the

philosophy of Law.

During the debate, 13 speakers took the floor.

Some of the topics raised during this debate included: the importance of respecting the values

enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union, including solidarity; the situation

of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the need for Member States to implement the

decisions of the ECJ; the separation of powers and the risk presented by politically-motivated

attacks on the rule of law; the threats posed by corruption and the attacks on media freedom;

the need to ensure access to justice for all, and the positive impact which civic and political

education programmes in schools could have. During the debate Members also highlighted the

respect for the rule of law as an essential criteria for the accession negotiations with EU

candidate countries, and raised concerns regarding the integrity of electoral processes and the

threat posed by disinformation and content generated by Artificial Intelligence, notably ahead

of the European Parliament elections in 2024. The specific situation of the rule of law in

Member States such as Spain, Hungary or Greece, and in EU candidate countries (some of

which would be included for the first time in the next European Commission Annual Report

on Rule of Law), such as Bosnia and Herzegovina or Türkiye were also mentioned.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 426: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet 24-26/3-24 i Bruxelles

The following speakers took the floor during this debate:

Ms Laura CASTEL FORT (Spanish

Cortes Generales),

Ms Hanah LAHE (Estonian

Riigikogu),

Ms Milagros MARCOS ORTEGA (Spanish

Cortes Generales),

Mr Rihards KOLS

(Latvian

Saeima),

Mr Marco LOMBARDO (Italian

Senato della Repubblica),

Mr Zoltán

TESSELY (Hungarian

Országgyűlés),

Mr Marc ANGEL (European

Parliament),

Mr Radovan

KOVAČEVIĆ (Bosnia and Herzegovina

Parlamentarna skupština),

Mr Daniel RIAZAT

(Swedish

Riksdag),

Mr Dimitrios KOUVELAS (Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon),

Mr Robert Marius

CAZANCIUC (Romanian

Senat),

Ms Katerina NOTOPOULOU (Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon),

and Mr Kadri Enis BERBEROĞLU (Türkiye

Büyük Millet Meclisi).

LOSING

ESSION

During the Closing session, Mr VAN GOIDSENHOVEN presented the draft texts on the

Conclusions and Contribution of LXXI COSAC, which had been approved during the meeting

of the COSAC Chairpersons. He also informed delegations that on request from the delegations

of the German

Bundestag

and

Bundesrat,

a footnote would be included in the Contribution on

the chapter concerning the Middle East, stating that they could not support that section. The

following remarks were made:

•

Mr Hans WALLMARK (Swedish

Riksdag)

thanked the Belgian Presidency for

organising the meeting, but considered it unfortunate that it was not possible to adopt

the texts by unanimity. He underlined the importance of an inclusive process in

COSAC, making everyone feel ownership of the end product, and manifest European

unity.

Mr Dimitrios KOUVELAS (Greek Vouli ton Ellinon) underlined that, due to a technical

correction as regards to paragraph 12 of the Contribution, the text adopted during the

chairs meeting on Monday 25 March differed from the text adopted during the plenary

meeting on Tuesday 26 March, which in his view changed the content of the paragraph.

Mr Ondřej BENEŠÍK (Czech

Poslanecká sněmovna)

noted that the Czech delegation

would like to join the concerns expressed by the German Bundestag and Bundesrat

regarding the chapter on the Middle-East of the Contribution.

Mr Francisco José CONDE LÓPEZ (Spanish

Cortes Generales)

thanked the Belgian

Presidency for its efforts in order to seek consensus, and remarked that to achieve this

COSAC could attempt to adopt shorter, more general texts, while also drawing, where

relevant, on the expertise of academia and experts. He underlined the importance of

COSAC as a forum, and thanked the Belgian, Hungarian and former Swedish

Presidency for good cooperation in the Troika.

•

Finally, the floor was given to Mr TESSELY, who briefly mentioned that during the upcoming

Hungarian Presidency, COSAC Chairpersons meeting would take place on 28 and 29 July

2024, and the LXXII COSAC on 27 to 29 October 2024. Topics for debate at the LXXII

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 426: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet 24-26/3-24 i Bruxelles

COSAC are foreseen to include the demographic situation in Europe, questions regarding the

labour market and competitiveness, and enlargement.

Ms TILLIEUX thanked everyone for having participated, and closed the meeting.