EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 52: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde i Prag 13-15/11-22

Europaudvalget 2022-23 (2. samling)
EUU Alm.del Bilag 52
Offentligt

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TROIKA OF COSAC

RAGUE

, C

ZECH

EPUBLIC

, 13 N

OVEMBER

2022

PRESENT AT THE MEETING

CHAIR: Mr Ondřej BENEŠÍK, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs of the

Czech

Poslanecká sněmovna;

Mr David SMOLJAK, Member of the Committee on EU

Affairs of the Czech

Senát;

Mr Hans WALLMARK and Ms Matilda ERNKRANS, respectively Chair and

Vice-Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs of the Swedish

Riksdag;

Mr Pieyre-Alexandre ANGLADE, 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 Othmar KARAS, First Vice-President, European Parliament; Mr Salvatore DE

MEO, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, European Parliament.

AGENDA

PROCEEDINGS

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

2. Approval of the draft programme of the LXVIII COSAC

3. Presentation of the 38th Bi-annual Report of COSAC

4. Hearings and activities of COSAC planned within the Czech Presidency

5. Draft Contribution and Conclusions of the LXVIII COSAC

6. Letters received by the Presidency

7. Any other business

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 52: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde i Prag 13-15/11-22

PROCEEDINGS

1. A

DOPTION OF THE AGENDA OF THE

EETING OF THE

RESIDENTIAL

ROIKA OF

COSAC

Mr Ondřej BENEŠÍK, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs of the Czech

Poslanecká sněmovna,

welcomed the delegations of the Presidential Troika of COSAC

(hereinafter referred to as "the Troika") to Prague, and greeted Mr Hans WALLMARK

and Ms Matilda ERNKRANS, recently elected as respectively Chair and Vice-Chair of

the Committee on EU Affairs of the Swedish

Riksdag,

and Mr Salvatore DE MEO, also

recently elected as Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, European

Parliament, who were participating at the meeting of the Troika for the first time.

Mr David SMOLJAK, Member of the Committee on n EU Affairs of the Czech

Senát,

also welcomed the delegations of the Troika of COSAC, expressing his expectations for

a productive meeting.

Mr BENEŠÍK then referred to the

draft agenda of the meeting of the Troika,

previously

circulated to all delegations, which was adopted without amendment.

2. A

PPROVAL OF THE DRAFT PROGRAMME OF THE

LXVIII COSAC

Mr BENEŠÍK alluded to the

draft agenda of the LXVIII COSAC,

introducing the five

thematic sessions which would be covered during the meeting:

the first session would be dedicated to an overview of the Czech Presidency of

the Council of the EU;

the second session would discuss the Future of the EU;

the third session would address the issues of the Strategic autonomy of the EU;

the fourth session would be dedicated to a state of play on Ukraine, namely on

reconstruction and migration;

and the fifth and final session would focus on the European Perspective of the

Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries.

Since there were no additional remarks on the draft agenda for the LXVIII COSAC, Mr

BENEŠÍK ended this debate by noting the support of the Troika to the proposed draft

programme, which was approved.

3. P

RESENTATION OF THE

ANNUAL

EPORT OF

COSAC

Ms BENEŠÍK referred to the

38th Bi-annual Report of COSAC,

which was drafted by

the COSAC Secretariat on the basis of replies to the related questionnaire circulated to

national Parliaments/Chambers on 19 July 2022, with a deadline on 19 September for

submitting the answers. Mr BENEŠÍK thanked the COSAC Secretariat for their work

and gave the floor to its Permanent Member, Mr Bruno DIAS PINHEIRO, to present the

Report.

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 52: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde i Prag 13-15/11-22

Mr DIAS PINHEIRO emphasised the fact that, besides the European Parliament, the

Parliaments/Chambers of 26 out of 27 Member-States had replied to the questionnaire,

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.

He further recalled that the three chapters of the Report were dedicated to: 1. The

Conference on the Future of Europe – parliamentary procedures and institutional affairs;

2. The proposals of the COSAC Working Groups (WGs); 3. The European Union and

Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Georgia. The main results from the Report were

summarised in a

short video clip

produced by the Permanent Member and displayed at

the end of his intervention.

4. H

EARINGS AND ACTIVITIES OF

COSAC

PLANNED WITHIN THE

ZECH

RESIDENCY

Mr BENEŠÍK referred to other activities within the framework of COSAC during the

semester of the Czech Presidency, namely to continue the practice inaugurated by the

previous Presidencies of organising informal hearings of European Commissioners or

other personalities by videoconference with the Chairpersons of the Committees on

European Affairs of the national Parliaments and with the European Parliament.

With that regard, he mentioned that two of these hearings had already taken place,

namely with Ms Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European

Commission for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age on the

Single Market Emergency

Instrument,

held on 6 October 2022; and with Ms Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of

the European Commission for Values and Transparency, on the

Rule of Law and Media

Freedom Act,

held on 27 October 2022.

Furthermore, Mr BENEŠÍK recalled that a hearing with Mr Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Vice-

President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight

was scheduled for 24 November 2022, on the

State of play of EU-UK relations.

Finally, a hearing with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans

TIMMERMANS, was also foreseen to take place in December, whereas the concrete

date would be announced in due course.

Mr BENEŠÍK also informed the Troika about the visit of a group of Chairpersons of EU

Affairs Committees of national Parliaments and the First-Vice President of the European

Parliament to Kyiv on 30 September, which was the first such visit to a candidate

country in this format. He alluded to the

joint press statement

adopted and reiterated the

importance of this initiative as a sign of solidarity and support to Ukraine. He then gave

the floor to Mr David SMOLJAK and to Mr Othmar KARAS, who participated in this

visit.

Mr SMOLJAK expressed his perception that, regardless of the difficulties of the current

context, he could learn during the visit that Ukraine was showing a level of confidence

and optimism that was truly inspiring and worthy of admiration.

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 52: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde i Prag 13-15/11-22

Mr KARAS referred to the importance of this visit, mentioning that it followed a

decision taken at the COSAC Chairpersons meeting held in Prague, on 11 July 2022.

Furthemore, he also alluded to the First Parliamentary Summit of the Crimean Platform,

organised in October 2022, in Zagreb, noting that both events were successful in

showing support to Ukraine. Finally, Mr KARAS considered that Parliaments and also

Governments should enhance the coordination to assist the candidate countries in

developing their democratic institutions, pointing to the key role that COSAC could

play with that regard.

5. D

RAFT

ONTRIBUTION AND

ONCLUSIONS OF THE

LXVIII COSAC

Mr BENEŠÍK introduced the procedure regarding the adoption of Contribution and

Conclusions by the LXVIII COSAC, recalling that it was the first time in three years

(since the LXII COSAC, in Helsinki) that COSAC was adopting these documents, given

the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic context. He then recalled the fact that

the Presidency had consulted the Troika for comments and reactions about the initial

drafts of the Contribution and Conclusions on 19 October, on the basis of which the

Presidency prepared a revised draft that was circulated to all delegations on 31 October,

of which the Troika was previously informed. He therefore noted that the Troika was

involved in all the preparatory and drafting phases, and all deadlines had been met.

He also mentioned that the Czech Presidency had tried, from the very beginning, to draft

a text which would be clear, brief and potentially very consensual, expressing his wish

to be able to eventually present both texts at the Plenary as a Troika proposal.

He noted that several amendments to the drafts were put forward by delegations within

the set deadline of 9 November and that the Presidency had distributed a table with

those amendments to the Troika, together with revised compromise texts of the

Contribution and Conclusions that attempted to embrace all suggestions made. Mr

BENEŠÍK further noted that the Presidency was committed to achieving a maximum

level of compromise, while recalling that, during the French Presidency, the Czech

delegation had always been a loyal and supportive Troika partner, not opposing the

proposals and ideas presented. Therefore, he considered that the Troika should strive for

a compromise text to be endorsed at the meeting and therefore presenting itself once

again in a unified manner.

Mr Hans WALLMARK took the floor to thank the Presidency for its efforts in trying to

reach a compromise, considering that the drafts presented were a pragmatic and

acceptable approach and therefore gathered the support of the Swedish delegation.

Mr KARAS started by saying that the European Parliament considered that the topics

for the draft Contribution were well chosen, since they reflected the agenda of this

COSAC Plenary. Regarding the draft Conclusions, he mentioned that the European

Parliament could also accept the mentioning of the 38th COSAC Bi-annual Report, the

visit of a group of COSAC Chairs and himself to Kyiv in September 2022 and the

informal COSAC meetings with Commissioners. He also noted that concerning the

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 52: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde i Prag 13-15/11-22

content of the Contribution, the European Parliament was aware that the Presidency had

presented an overall compromise text, after having received some amendments by some

delegations. Notwithstanding the fact that the European Parliament would have

preferred the more neutral wording of the previous version (dated 31 October)

concerning the issue of the COSAC WGs under the French Presidency, on paragraph 15

of the Draft Contribution and on Paragraph 2 of the Draft Conclusions, he declared that

the European Parliament could accept the most recent text proposal by the Czech

Presidency, for a matter of overall compromise.

Mr Pieyre-Alexandre ANGLADE, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the

French

Assemblée nationale,

thanked the Presidency for its work in trying to reach a

compromise and highlighted the need to strengthen the reference regarding the

judgment of authors of war crimes or crimes of humanity before the International

Criminal Court (ICC) in the paragraphs concerning Ukraine in the Contribution of the

LXVIII COSAC.

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

Sénat,

also thanked the Presidency for the work done so far, while considering that the

proposed compromise was not balanced in comparison to the initial drafts proposed by

the Presidency to the Troika, and that he claimed were agreed by the Swedish and

French delegations, with regard to two specific points: he mentioned that the

Contribution should come back to a stronger wording regarding the WGs, namely by

explicitly welcoming the conclusions adopted by them; and that COSAC should clearly

ask the EU institutions to respond to all these proposals, taking the exercise one step

further.

For these reasons, the French delegation put forward two additional amendments on the

Contribution and on the Conclusions at the Troika meeting, one on the explicit reference

to the ICC (paragraph 4) and another on the conclusions of the WGs and the follow-up

required by the EU institutions on them (paragraph 15).

In reply, Mr BENEŠÍK reiterated that the compromise proposed by the Presidency

aimed at ensuring that the Contribution and Conclusions remained within the mandate

of COSAC, by welcoming the establishment of the WGs and its proceedings and

inviting the EU institutions to reflect on the issues covered by them. In fact, he added

that the proposals were made within the WGs and there had been no vote or decision of

COSAC about them, also alluding to the fact that, in their replies for the 38th COSAC

Bi-annual Report, many Parliaments/Chambers had indicated they had “no official

opinion” on many of those proposals. For that reason, and from a formal point of view,

the Contribution could not go beyond the competences and mandate of COSAC when

addressing such issues to the EU institutions.

Mr Jean-François RAPIN expressed his disappointment with the compromise proposed,

since he considered that COSAC should go further in expressing a clear vision on the

role of national Parliaments and on their cooperation with the EU institutions.

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 52: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde i Prag 13-15/11-22

Mr KARAS supported the approach of the Presidency, noting that there was a different

interpretation of the results of the WGs, highlighting that the European Parliament

welcomed this initiative but had a different understanding of its outcome and for this

reason could not support the French Presidency with that regard. He recalled that not all

Parliaments had participated in the works or adopted a position on the proposals, and

that no compromise had been reached. He further considered that the wording put

forward by the Czech Presidency was a good step forward. He reminded that in June

there had been a conflict on the results, whereas now the Troika was agreeing on

welcoming the WG’s establishment and inviting the institutions to reflect on the issues

covered by them. Finally, he reiterated that despite the fact that the draft circulated to

delegations on 31 October was more in line with the position of the European

Parliament, he acknowledged the need for a compromise on the basis of what the

Presidency had just explained and therefore supported it.

Mr WALLMARK took the floor to express his support for what he considered a true

compromise by the Presidency and therefore endorsed the wording mentioned by Mr

BENEŠÍK.

Mr BENEŠÍK expressed his hope that the explanations provided were clear enough,

while noting that politics was the art of the possible and that a compromise was the

result of the efforts made by everyone to find an acceptable solution. Furthermore, he

highlighted that the Presidency would like to avoid lengthy discussions on the matter

that could harm the possibility of adopting a Contribution. He then asked all the Troika

members, namely the French delegation, if they would support the current compromise

being submitted to all COSAC delegations as the Troika compromise with regard to the

Contribution and Conclusions.

At this stage, both Mr ANGLADE and Mr RAPIN informed that they would acquiesce

to the Troika compromise text, while noting that they retained the right to submit further

amendments to the consideration of all the Chairpersons during the proceedings to

discuss and adopt the Contribution and Conclusions at the LXVIII COSAC.

The draft Contribution and Conclusions were therefore approved by the Troika.

6. L

ETTERS RECEIVED BY THE

RESIDENCY

Mr BENEŠÍK referred to the letter received by Sir William CASH, from the United

Kingdom (UK)

House of Commons

requesting an invitation to attend the LXVIII

COSAC. He added that, following consultation with the Presidential Troika, an

invitation had been sent to the above-mentioned Chamber.

He also mentioned the letters sent by the Chair of the European Affairs Committee of

the Polish

Senat,

Mr Bogdan KLICH, on the possible establishment of a COSAC liaison

office in Ukraine and the reply given by the Presidency.

EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 52: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde i Prag 13-15/11-22

Finally, he also alluded to the letter sent by the Chair of the European Affairs

Committee of the Danish

Folketing,

Ms Eva KJER HANSEN, proposing to include a

point about the role of national Parliaments on the agenda of the LXVIII COSAC. Mr

BENEŠÍK informed about the reply given by the Presidency, noting that the time frame

dedicated to COSAC Plenary Conferences was limited and rearranging the agenda at the

request in such a short time before the Conference was extremely difficult for various

reasons. However, and given the importance of the topic, the Presidency proposed to

extend the agenda of the informal online meeting with Vice-President of the European

Commission Mr Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, scheduled for 24 November, so that the COSAC

Chairpersons would have the opportunity to discuss efficiently current pressing issues

related to the role of the national Parliaments.

All the letters mentioned were made available on

IPEX

7. A

NY OTHER BUSINESS

No other issues were raised, and therefore Mr BENEŠÍK thanked all participants for the

constructive debate and closed the meeting.