EUU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 640: Referat af virtuelt COSAC-møde 31/5 og 1/6-21

Europaudvalget 2020-21
EUU Alm.del Bilag 640
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TROIKA OF COSAC

Lisbon, Portugal, 27 May 2021

(held through videoconference)

PRESENT AT THE MEETING

CHAIRS: Mr Luís CAPOULAS SANTOS, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee,

Portuguese

Assembleia da República

Mr Markus TÖNS, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union,

German

Bundestag;

Mr Marko POGAČNIK, Chair of the Committee on EU Affairs, Slovenian

Državni zbor

; Mr Bojan KEKEC, Chair of the Commission for International Relations and

European Affairs, Slovenian

Državni svet

; Ms Roberta METSOLA, First Vice-President,

European Parliament.

AGENDA

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

2. Approval of the draft programme of the LXV COSAC

3. Presentation of the 35th Bi-annual Report of COSAC

4. Presentation of a letter from the Presidency

5. Letters received by the Presidency

6. Any other business

PROCEEDINGS

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

Mr Luís CAPOULAS SANTOS, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee, Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

welcomed the delegations of the Presidential Troika of COSAC

(hereinafter referred to as "the Troika"), and referred to the agenda of the meeting of the Troika,

which was adopted without amendment.

2. Approval of the draft programme of the LXV COSAC

Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS then referred to the programme of the virtual COSAC, which would

cover the following topics:



Session I - The Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU;

Session II: Social Europe: what model for the triple economic, digital and climate

transition?;

Session III: Implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans - the role of

national Parliaments;

Session IV: Conference on the Future of Europe: state of play.

Referring to the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Chair lauded the great cooperation

and noted the first meeting to be held with a panel of citizens in Lisbon on 17th June, as well

as the first plenary meeting of the Conference, to be held in Strasbourg, on 19th June, as decided

at the Executive Board.

EUU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 640: Referat af virtuelt COSAC-møde 31/5 og 1/6-21

The draft programme of the LXV COSAC was thus approved without amendment.

3. Presentation of the 35th Bi-annual Report of COSAC

Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS referred to the 35th Bi-annual Report of COSAC, which was drafted

based on replies to the related questionnaire circulated to national Parliaments/Chambers on 5

February 2021, with 9 March 2021 set as the deadline for submitting replies, and which

consisted of three chapters: the first one dealing with action plan to implement the European

Pillar of Social Rights; the second chapter focusing on the EU-Africa Strategy; the third chapter

addressing the Next Generation EU and the scrutiny of national recovery and resilience plans

and their implications for the European semester; and the fourth and final chapter dedicated to

the Conference on the Future of Europe. Mr SANTOS showed a short video clip produced by

the Permanent Member of the COSAC Secretariat, Mr Kenneth CURMI, showcasing some of

the results of the report.

4. Presentation of a letter by the Presidency

Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS referred to the initiative of sending a letter by the Presidency

addressed to the Institutions, instead of a Contribution, which, given the circumstances, the

LXV COSAC would not be in a position to discuss and adopt. Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS

recalled the importance of informing the European Institutions about the work developed during

such an atypical semester, highlighting the several meetings held and the articulated positions

that emerged. The Chair also informed participants that the letter, to be co-signed by the

national Parliaments of the Presidential Troika, would possibly be subject to amendments

following the plenary meeting of COSAC.

Mr Markus TÖNS, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union,

German

Bundestag,

took the floor to express his gratitude for the letter drafted by the

Presidency and for the procedure adopted, namely to wait for the outcome of the plenary and

amend the draft accordingly.

Once again, Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS reiterated the way forward, namely to redraft the text

as necessary following and according to suggestions received during the plenary.

Ms Roberta METSOLA, First Vice-President, European Parliament, lamented the fact that

current circumstances meant that the COSAC plenary meeting had to be held via

videoconference but congratulated the Presidency for delivering nonetheless through a fantastic

presentation and a balanced letter.

5. Letters received by the Presidency

The Chair briefly referred to the letters requesting participation in the meeting received by the

Presidency from the delegations of Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, Andorra, Georgia and

Monaco,

explaining the Presidency•s

decision to invite all delegations as they all had a reason

to attend.

He went on to mention the following letters received by the Presidency:

- Letter from Sir William CASH, Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, UK

House

of Commons,

requesting participation at the LXV COSAC.

- Letters from Mr Pere LÓPEZ, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Andorran

Parliament; and Ms Fabrice NOTARI, Chair of the Committee on Negotiations with

European Union, and Ms Stéphanie VALERI, President of the

Conseil National

of Monaco,

requesting participation at the LXV COSAC.

EUU, Alm.del - 2020-21 - Bilag 640: Referat af virtuelt COSAC-møde 31/5 og 1/6-21

- Letter from Mr Guido WOLF, Chairman of the Committee on European Union Questions of

the German

Bundesrat,

notifying that he would be leaving his position as Chair.

Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS referred to the UK as an important partner and welcomed the

conclusion of the negotiation as a positive sign. Regarding

Georgia•s request to participate as

observer in this Conference, the Chair also referred to the importance of the Eastern Partnership,

the stability and democracy in the neighbouring countries and the commitment of the

Portuguese Presidency with this topic. On the extension of an invitation to Andorra and

Monaco, the Chair highlighted the relationship of these countries with the EU and their

involvement in regional cooperation projects.

Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS referred to a letter from Mr Guido WOLF noting that he was no

longer the Chairman of the Committee on European Union Questions of the German

Bundesrat,

and wished him the best success for his future.

Mr TÖNS expressed his gratitude for the excellent cooperation experienced by his Parliament

in the context of the Presidential Troika, in which he had great confidence with regard to

deciding the way forward.

6. Any other business

Referring to the letter of intent sent earlier in the year, Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS welcomed

the replies received from a number of Parliaments, and hoped that others would follow suit.