EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Europaudvalget 2023-24
EUU Alm.del Bilag 187
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE LXX COSAC

ADRID

, S

PAIN

, 26 - 28 N

OVEMBER

2023

AGENDA

PROCEEDINGS

1. OPENING OF THE MEETING

Intervention by the Co-Chair of the the Delegation of the Cortes Generales to the

COSAC, Mr José Ignacio LANDALUCE

Intervention by the Speaker of the Spanish Senado, Mr Pedro ROLLÁN OJEDA

2. PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

Approval of the agenda of the LXX COSAC

Presentation of the results of the presidential Troika meeting

Presentation of the 40th COSAC Bi-annual Report

Letters received by the Presidency

Any other business

3. Session I. Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU

Address by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Mr José

Manuel ALBARES BUENO (video message)

4. Session II. The Pact on Migration and Asylum of the EU

Address by the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Fernando GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

Address by the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ms Ylva JOHANSSON

Address by the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr Othmar KARAS 13

5. Session III. Energy crisis and green transition

Address by the Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur on the State of the

Energy Union, Mr Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES

Address by the member of the German Bundestag, Mr Gunther KRICHBAUM

6. Meeting of the COSAC Chairpersons - discussion on the Contribution and Conclusions

of the LXX COSAC

7. Session IV. Situation in Ukraine and relations with the European Union

Address by Admiral Juan Francisco MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ, Secretary General for

Defence Policy

Address by the Chairperson of the Committee on EU Policies of the Italian Senato della

Republica, Mr Giuliomaria TERZI DI SANT’AGATA

Address by the Chairperson of Ukraine’s European Union Integration Committee of the

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ms Ivanna KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE

8. Session V. Open Strategic Autonomy and relations with Latin America

Address by Mr Juan FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO, Spanish Secretary of State for

Ibero-America and the Caribbean and for Spanish around the World

Address by Mr Carlos MALAMUD RIKLES, Senior Analyst at the Real Instituto

Elcano

9. Closing session: adoption of the Contribution and Conclusions of the LXX COSAC 43

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

PROCEEDINGS

IN THE CHAIR: Mr José Ignacio LANDALUCE CALLEJA, Member of the Spanish

Senado, and Susana SUMELZO JORDÁN, Member of the Spanish

Congreso de los

Diputados

Co-Chairs of the the Delegation of the

Cortes Generales

to the COSAC.

1. OPENING OF THE MEETING

Intervention by the Co-Chair of the the Delegation of the

Cortes Generales

to the

COSAC, Mr José Ignacio LANDALUCE

Mr LANDALUCE welcomed all the delegations present in Madrid to participate in the

LXX COSAC, and also thanked the staff of the Spanish

Cortes Generales

for the work

in preparing this meeting. He recalled that the aim of COSAC was to strengthen the role

of national Parliaments, as a vehicle to express social concerns and, amongst the

different topics that would be dealt with, he focused on the importance of stability and

cohesion for the European Union (EU). In relation to Ukraine, he supported the military

aid to this country and pleaded that the conflict should not to be forgotten, as European

unity was closely linked to the victory of Ukraine.

He further noted that the same unity in relation to the conflict between Israel and

Palestine should be kept, adding that civilians were enduring the worst share of the pain.

He also mentioned other topics foreseen on the agenda, like the New Pact on Migration

and Asylum, in relation to which Member States should be firm regarding their common

responsibilities. As to the energy crisis, Mr LANDALUCE noted it gave the EU a

unique opportunity to increase the strategic autonomy of its economy. In that regard, he

emphasised that the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU was also a unique

opportunity to strengthen relations with Latin America, given the close ties between

Spain and this region. He then alluded to the fact that the challenges the EU had to face

recently, should serve as a learning experience, while simultaneously increasing the

feeling of pride of belonging to the EU. He concluded by quoting an African proverb

that read as follows:

“If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go

together”,

expressing his hope that the LXX COSAC would make it possible, by

bringing members of Parliament closer to the people and by standing for the rule of law.

Intervention by the Speaker of the Spanish

Senado,

Mr Pedro ROLLÁN OJEDA

The Speaker of the Spanish

Senado

started by warmly welcoming everybody present in

the room, including all members of the delegations attending, as well as the staff whose

work had made the meeting possible.

He alluded to the recent meeting of the COSAC Chairpersons, held on the 17-18

September 2023 in the Spanish

Senado

in Madrid, considering that hosting the LXX

COSAC was an immense honour and that the Spanish Presidency had been a positive

one for the EU.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Mr ROLLÁN OJEDA recalled that it was precisely in Madrid that the idea of

establishing COSAC was conceived in 1989, and mentioned that Mr Manuel

DELGADO-IRIBARREN, Legal Advisor to the

Cortes Generales,

was present back

then, and he was also attending the LXX COSAC. He then noted that during the more

than three decades that had passed, society had evolved and the challenges that the EU

had faced were very diverse. In most of the challenges, the involvement of national

Parliaments and of the European Parliament had been of great importance, since they

had been active participants in finding the solutions for the EU policies.

He mentioned that Europe had continued to deal with many issues and problems in

recent times, which should be jointly faced by Member States and candidate countries

through dialogue, cooperation and generosity, striving for the common good of Europe.

Mr ROLLÁN OJEDA acknowledged that only a strong and united Europe would have a

future and be able to retain its leading role in an increasingly globalised world.

Moreover, he referred to some of the remaining challenges of the EU, such as the New

Pact on Migration and Asylum that should provide consensual solutions to the latest

migration crises and the growing pressure on the external borders of the Union, as

recently seen in Lampedusa or the Canary Islands, as well as in other territories in

previous years. Mr ROLLÁN OJEDA also mentioned the continued efforts in moving

towards a decarbonized society, respectful of biodiversity, with better air quality and

environmentally sustainable. He added that much progress had already been made and,

even if the EU was not a shining global example, it must continue to lead the fight

against climate change, while generating jobs related to the green, blue and circular

economy.

He considered Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which was about to mark its second

anniversary, as an unjustified war in Europe. He highlighted that Europeans must fight

together through diplomacy and dialogue, but also with strong political, economic,

human and military support to Ukraine, in order to achieve the restoration of peace and

the reconstruction of this country. Meanwhile, this conflict was affecting the weakest

economies and European citizens, with sharp price increases and food and energy

shortages. At that point, he also mentioned other current conflicts, such as the one

taking place between Israel and Palestine. On the topic of Open Strategic Autonomy and

relations with strategic partners of the Union, such as Latin America, he considered that

they should, above all, foster projects and commercial opportunities, as well as progress

in areas of mutual interest.

He also mentioned the debates on the priorities of the Spanish Presidency due to be held

at the LXX COSAC, emphasising that, barely a month before its end, the work needed

to be intensified to achieve the desired results.

Finally, Mr ROLLÁN OJEDA emphasised that, in a moment when Europe had to face

such important challenges and uncertainties in an increasingly volatile world, Europeans

had to demonstrate that they were capable of developing appropriate responses and

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

solutions to those challenges. He stressed that Europeans must defend and highlight the

shared values and interests that have made possible the enormous success of the EU. Mr

ROLLÁN concluded by expressing his confidence in a satisfactory result for the LXX

COSAC.

2. PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN opened this session by welcoming two new Chairpersons

from national Parliaments who were attending the COSAC Plenary for the first time: Mr

Ján FERENČÁK, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs of the Slovak

Národná Rada,

and Mr Edmunds CEPURÏTIS, Chairman of the Committee on

European Affairs of the Latvian

Saeima.

Approval of the agenda of the LXX COSAC

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN then moved on to the approval of the draft agenda of the

LXX COSAC as endorsed by the Presidential Troika, which had been previously

distributed to all delegations.

Beforehand, the Co-Chair made some clarifications. Firstly, she mentioned that the

programme initially envisaged for the LXX COSAC had to be adapted, after early

general elections were held in Spain on 23 July and the fact that the new Government

had not been formed until the previous week of the COSAC plenary. These

circumstances meant that some of the planned keynote speakers could not confirm their

participation until the very last minute. Likewise, it had been necessary to accommodate

changes in the agenda of some members of the European Commission, whose

participation was initially planned.

Secondly, she noted that the Presidency had received a letter from Mr Glenn

BEDINGFIELD, Chair of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee of the Maltese

Kamra tad-Deputati,

requesting to include the latest developments in the Middle East in

the agenda of the LXX COSAC. The Troika had deemed that this matter, of undoubted

political relevance, could be considered included within the first session dedicated to the

Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN then submitted the draft agenda of the LXX COSAC to the

consideration of delegations, which was approved with no further comments.

Presentation of the results of the presidential Troika meeting

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN informed delegations of the outcome of the meeting of the

Presidential Troika of COSAC which had taken place the day before in the presence of

representatives of the Swedish

Riksdag,

of the Spanish

Cortes Generales,

of the Belgian

Chambre des représentants/Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers

and

Sénat/Senaat,

and

of the European Parliament. The agenda included a number of matters, namely the

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

approval of the draft programme of the LXX COSAC Plenary meeting, the presentation

of the 40th Bi-annual Report, and information on letters received by the Presidency.

In addition to the referred topics, the Troika also addressed the proposal for the

appointment of a new permanent member of the COSAC Secretariat, since the mandate

of Mr Bruno DIAS PINHEIRO was meant to expire on 31 December 2023, and that he

would not be seeking a second term. She recalled that, on 27 October, the Spanish

Presidency invited delegations to

submit nominations for the position of the Permanent

Member of the COSAC Secretariat, accompanied by the candidate's curriculum vitae,

motivation letter and recommendation letter of the supporting Chairperson, with a

deadline set to 10 November 2023. The Chair informed that within the deadline, there

was one candidacy submitted, namely that of

Mr Jakob SJÖVALL from the Swedish

Riksdag.

The candidate had been invited to attend a brief interview with the members of the

presidential Troika of COSAC. After that, the remaining members of the Presidential

troika deliberated unanimously on the adequacy of the candidate. Therefore, and in line

with the COSAC Rules of procedure (Article 9.3), Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN announced

that the Troika would propose to the Chairpersons during the LXX COSAC the

appointment of Mr Jakob SJÖVALL from the Swedish

Riksdag

as the Permanent

Member of the COSAC Secretariat for the period 2024-2025.

Likewise, Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN announced that the Troika had discussed and taken

note of a revised draft Contribution and Conclusions, which had been distributed to

delegations together with the updated table with all the amendments received, with a

new deadline for amendments set for 14h that day, Monday 27 November.

Presentation of the 40th COSAC Bi-annual Report

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN referred to the 40th Bi-annual Report of COSAC, drafted by

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

national Parliaments/Chambers on the 20 September 2023, with a deadline for

submitting replies on 20 October 2023. Ms SUMELZO thanked the COSAC Secretariat

for their work and gave the floor to its Permanent Member, Mr Bruno DIAS

PINHEIRO, to present the Report, after thanking him for this work of systematisation

and graphic presentation.

In his presentation Mr DIAS PINHEIRO thanked the Spanish Presidency for its

hospitality, and underlined that this was the 20th anniversary of the COSAC Bi-annual

Reports, and its 40th edition, numbers that proved it was still a worthy and relevant

document. He welcomed the fact that all national Parliaments, and the European

Parliament, had replied to the questionnaire, and thanked colleagues in the COSAC

Secretariat for their work.

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

Parliaments in relation to the European goal of Open Strategic Autonomy, topic dealt for

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

the first time within a Bi-annual Report; 2. The role of Parliaments in handling energy

policies, specially renewable sources of energy, in a follow up of the Swedish

Presidency 39th Bi-annual Report; and 3. The role of Parliaments when confronted with

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, also a follow up from the previous Report. The 40th

Bi-annual Report had covered a wide range of meaningful questions that he hoped

would prove useful during the debates of the LXX COSAC. As this was his last meeting

as permanent member of the COSAC Secretariat, he thanked all delegates for their

support, and showed his special gratitude to Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS, Chair of the

European Affairs Committee of the Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

for having

supported him in what had been the most fascinating professional experience of his

career. He concluded by wishing the best to the new Permanent Member of the COSAC

Secretariat, Mr Jakob SJÖVALL.

The main results from the Report were summarised in a

short video clip

produced by the

Permanent Member and presented at the end of his intervention.

Following the presentation made by Mr DIAS PINHEIRO, the Chair asked if any of the

participants would like to make any comments, but there were no further interventions.

Letters received by the Presidency

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN recalled the following letters received by the Presidency

requesting invitations 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 Peter RICKETTS, Chair of the European Union Committee, United

Kingdom (UK)

House of Lords;

Sir William CASH, Chair of the EU Scrutiny Committee, United Kingdom (UK)

House of Commons;

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

the Icelandic

Althingi;

Ms Maka BOTCHORISHVILI, Chair of the Committee on European Integration

of the Georgian

Sakartvelos p'arlament'I;

Ms Rrezarta KRASNIQI, Chair of the Committee on European Integration,

Kosovo

Kuvendi i Kosovës;

Mr Arman YEGHOYAN, Chair of the Standing Committee on European

Integration, National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia;

Mr Berna COMA, Chairperson of the Legislative Committee for External

Policies,

Consell General,

Principat d´Andorra;

Ms Brigitte BOCCONE-PAGES, President of the Monaco

Conseil national,

and

Mr Régis BERGONZI, National Councillor, President of the Commission for

monitoring the negotiations with the European Union.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN said that, following consultation with the Presidential Troika

of COSAC, invitations had been extended to all the above-mentioned Parliaments to

take part in the LXX COSAC.

She also alluded to the letter sent by Mr Glenn BEDINGFIELD, Chair of the Foreign

and European Affairs Committee of the Maltese

Kamra tad-Deputati,

which had been

discussed earlier in the framework of the agenda item related to the approval of the

programme for the LXX COSAC.

All the letters mentioned were made available on

IPEX.

Any other business

There were no interventions in this point of the agenda.

3. S

ESSION

I. S

PANISH

RESIDENCY OF THE

OUNCIL OF THE

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN opened the first session of the LXX COSAC, explaining that,

given the political calendar in Spain, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union

and Cooperation, Mr José Manuel ALBARES BUENO, could not attend in person and

had instead sent a video message to the COSAC plenary, that was projected in the room.

Address by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation,

Mr José Manuel ALBARES BUENO (video message)

The Minister started by underlining the fact that, 34 years after having been created in

Madrid, COSAC was back in Spain, in a very special time, during the Spanish

Presidency of the Council of the EU. He referred to Spain as a country where

parliamentarians played a focal role, as the Parliament offered the instruments to

achieve agreements, to find responses to citizens’ concerns and the guarantee of living

together.

He mentioned that the

Cortes Generales

had helped the Government prepare the

Presidency objectives, amongst which a special reference was made to the EU-CELAC

(Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit that took place from 24

to 27 July 2023. He continued by condemning Russia´s invasion of Ukraine, by

referring to the crisis in the Middle East, and supporting the enlargement of the EU.

Regarding some of the ongoing negotiations, he alluded to the Critical Raw Materials

Act, the regulation on Artificial Intelligence, the negotiation of free trade agreements,

amongst others, with New Zealand, and the post-Cotonou Agreement, the ecological

transition and biodiversity, and the reform of the electricity market.

Mr ALBARES BUENO also focused on social justice, which he considered to be the

DNA of the Spanish Presidency, with issues such as women’s rights, equality, rights of

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

disabled persons, problems related to ageing and social and territorial cohesion. He

recalled the Informal European Council, held in Granada, on 6 October 2023, dedicated

to the EU’s Open Strategic Autonomy, and added that the well-being of Europeans went

hand in hand with the green transition. He concluded by wishing that the Spanish

Presidency could count on the support of COSAC to achieve the aforementioned

objectives.

After the video message of the Foreign Affairs Minister, the debate started, with all

questions being jointly replied at the end of the session by the Secretary of State for the

European Union, Mr Pascual NAVARRO.

During the ensuing debate, 40 speakers took the floor.

Overall, there was a

broad support for the priorities and the achievements of the

Spanish Presidency,

especially in files related to the

green transition, the

reindustrialisation and the Social Pillar of Europe.

The green transition was

specifically mentioned amongst others by Mr Ján FERENČÁK, Slovak

Národná Rada

and Mr Alessandro GIGLIO VIGNA, Italian

Camera dei Diputati.

The work of the

Spanish Presidency in relation to its different priorities was mentioned under a positive

light amongst others by Ms Eliane TILLIEUX, Belgian

Chambre des

représentants/Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers,

Mr Hans WALLMARK, Swedish

Riksdag,

Mr Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ, Croatian

Hrvatski Sabor,

and Mr

MEIMARAKIS, European Parliament. There were also interventions in the opposite

sense, by Mr José María SÁNCHEZ, Spanish

Cortes Generales,

and Mr Jorge

BUXADÉ VILLALBA, European Parliament.

The

recent terrorist attack by Hamas

against Israel on 7 October 2023 and the

subsequent

crisis in the Middle East,

was a topic raised by many speakers, who

underlined different aspects of this extremely complicated and sensitive conflict. Ms

TILLIEUX asked for a stronger line and a demand for a total ceasefire. Mr Pere Joan

PONS, Spanish

Cortes Generales

and Mr Thomas HACKER, German

Bundestag,

both

identified Israel as the only democracy in the Middle East. Mr TERZI DI

SANT´AGATA, Italian

Senato della Repubblica,

recalled the need to respect

international law by both sides in the conflict. Mr Glenn BEDINGFIELD, Maltese

Kamra Tad-Deputati,

pointed out the role of one country behind this and many of the

conflicts in the current geopolitical landscape: Iran. He then reinstated his request to

have this topic included as a new point in the agenda of the LXX COSAC. Another

topic mentioned by Mr KARAS, European Parliament, and Mr Giuliomaria TERZI DI

SANT´AGATA, Italian

Senato della Repubblica,

was the serious need to fight

anti-semitism

at all levels. Finally, the two states solution, Israel and Palestine, was

evoked as the only possible solution by several speakers, amongst others Mr

Pieyre-Alexandre ANGLADE, French

Assamblée Nationale.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

was, almost two years after its beginning,

still a prominent theme in the debate. Different aspects of this war were mentioned, like

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

the need to avoid forgetting about it, mentioned by Ms TILLIEUX or the fact that EU

enlargement should be speeded up in relation to Ukraine, mentioned amongst others by

Mr PONS and Ms Ivanna KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE, Ukrainian

Verkhovna Rada.

Harris GEORGIADES, Cypriot

Vouli ton Antiprosopon,

linked this aggression by

Russia to other conflicts, like the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and

Azerbaijan. Mr HOFREITER, German

Bundestag,

also warned of the catastrophic

consequences of the eventual defeat of Ukraine and in order to avoid it, he stressed the

need to reinforce European defence cooperation. This idea was also mentioned by other

delegates, amongst others, by Ms Boglárka ILLÉS, Hungarian

Országgyűlés

and Ms

Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ, Lithuanian

Seimas.

Armenia,

which participated in a COSAC meeting for the first time, received special

attention in the debates, with mentions by several speakers, amongst others, by Mr

Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ, Croatian

Hrvatski Sabor

and Ms Radvilė

MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ, Lithuanian

Seimas,

who pleaded in favour of a

strong European reaction to the events in the region, given the Nagorno-Karabakh

conflict.

Mr Doménec RUIZ DEVESA, European Parliament, thanked the Spanish Presidency

for having supported

institutional reforms

within the EU, and referred to the European

Parliament resolution of 22 November 2023 on proposals of the European Parliament

for the amendment of the Treaties.

In the context of the changing geopolitical situation and the lengthy accession process,

several delegates expressed support to the

European Union´s enlargement,

including

delegates from all candidate countries present in the LXX COSAC, amongst others, Ms

Etilda GJONAJ, Albanian

Kuvendi,

Mr Arber ADEMI, North Macedonian

Sobranie,

Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbian

Narodna skupština,

Mr Kreshnik ÇOLLAKU, Albanian

Kuvendi,

Ms Maka BOTCHORISHVILI, Georgian

Sakartvelos P’arliament’i

and Ms

Rrezarta KRASNIQI Kosovo

Kuvendi i Kosovës.

On this topic, Mr Christian

BUCHMANN, Austrian

Bundesrat

stressed the need to consider the accession of the

Western Balkans, in order to allow Europe to export stability, not import instability.

The importance and need of the urgent

accession of Romania and Bulgaria to

Schengen

was jointly raised by Ms Mirela FURTUNĂ, Romanian

Camera Deputatilor

and Mr Dinko DINCHEV, Bulgarian

Narodno sabranie.

Mr Pascual NAVARRO, Secretary of State, answered the questions individually as is

accustomed in the Spanish

Cortes Generales.

In relation to the different files under the Spanish Presidency, he referred to many

different priorities. In relation to

social Europe,

in all its dimensions, Mr NAVARRO

hoped that substantial progress could be achieved under the Belgian Presidency, before

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 - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

the end of the European parliamentary term in June 2024. Reindustrialization was also

considered a key priority, and the adoption of the Critical Raw Material Act was a

success that contributed to this aim. The European Pact on Migration and Asylum had

also seen advances, as the Spanish Presidency had worked towards a European solution.

Mr NAVARRO explained that the

Spanish Presidency had been present in the

European Parliament

this semester, at different levels, and that the Prime Minister was

expected to appear before the plenary in December, after having been confirmed in his

position.

In relation to the

crisis in the Middle East,

he agreed with Mr KARAS, European

Parliament, in the balanced position defended by the last European Council meetings,

and announced a new position will be adopted during the European Council meeting in

December, before the end of the Spanish Presidency.

Russia´s war of aggression against Ukraine

was also tackled by the Secretary of State,

who announced that the European Council was about to agree on a new package of

sanctions against Russia.

Enlargement

was a topic deemed important by Mr NAVARRO. He hoped all files in

relation to enlargement could be dealt with and the process continued, in an

individualised manner for each candidate or potential candidate. He referred to the

specific situation of every candidate country, particularly acknowledged Albania´s huge

progresses towards accession and encouraged North Macedonia and Kosovo

to solve

pending issues, both internally and in their region. In relation to Ukraine, the Secretary

of State indicated that the Spanish Presidency would take initiatives to open accession

negotiations. On a different note, he referred to the EU association agreement with

Andorra, that he hoped would be signed under the Spanish Presidency.

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN thanked the Secretary of State for EU Affairs for his detailed

answers, before closing the first session of the LXX COSAC.

4. S

ESSION

II. T

ACT ON

IGRATION AND

SYLUM OF THE

Address by the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Fernando GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

began his intervention by referring to the new

Spanish Government which had taken office the previous week. He said that the present

Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU was of particular importance since it was

the last full Presidency during the current European legislative cycle. This fact put

additional pressure to conclude ongoing negotiations as soon as possible, and files

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 - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

related to internal affairs, and especially to migration policy, were of particular

importance in that respect.

Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

stated that migration had historically been

associated with positive sentiments and viewed as an opportunity for Europe, but was

currently perceived in a negative way. The EU therefore had to come up with realistic

solutions to the migration phenomena in line with its shared principles and values. He

further said that the EU needed to make sure that migration stopped being a divisive

issue in Europe and instead was regarded as an opportunity rather than a problem.

He mentioned that the approval of the Pact on Migration and Asylum was a priority for

the Spanish Presidency. He further noted that not everybody could be satisfied but a

compromise had to be built upon the principles of a fair sharing of responsibility as well

as solidarity between Member States. He also considered that, from a political point of

view, and after many years of debate, the approval of the Pact would be an important

milestone because it would send a clear message of solidarity.

Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

then described the historical background of the

different legislative and operational initiatives which together made up the Pact on

Migration and Asylum. He explained that this comprehensive package was presented by

the European Commission in September 2020, and aimed to cover all phases of

migration processes, as well as the external dimension. It was based on a balance

between the principles of solidarity and a fair sharing of responsibility, both enshrined in

the EU Treaties. He further noted that the aim of the Pact was to come up with a new

comprehensive policy for migration and asylum for the EU, built on previous proposals

made by the Commission in 2016, following the 2015 migration crisis.

Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

summarised how the discussions had proceeded

over the last few years. In September 2023 a roadmap, stating that the negotiations of all

initiatives in the Pact should be concluded before the end of the present legislative

cycle, had been signed by the previous, current and incoming Presidencies of the

Council as well as the European Parliament. He reviewed progress in the negotiations

for the different legislative acts in the Pact, with emphasis on the Regulation on Asylum

and Migration, which he viewed as the cornerstone of the Pact, as it was intended to

replace the current Dublin regulation that determined which EU Member State was

responsible for the examination of an application for asylum.

Although the work was very demanding, complex and politically sensitive, Mr

GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

argued that the negotiations had progressed rapidly.

He said that work was still to be done, but great efforts had been made in the ongoing

trilogues and technical meetings to identify and agree on the most politically

challenging issues. The final objective of reaching a political and all-encompassing

agreement on the Pact of Migration and Asylum overall during the Spanish Presidency

was within reach, Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

argued. He continued by

stating that this was a necessity and a need to accomplish, which also was the message

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

he had conveyed to his colleagues at the last Council meeting of Ministers of Justice and

Home Affairs held in Luxemburg 19

of October 2023.

As part of a set of final messages Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

stated that a

new European legal framework, which provided a better response to challenges posed

by migration and asylum, had been debated for more than eight years and the EU was

currently in a key moment in time for reaching a definitive agreement on the Migration

and Asylum Pact. The aim of the Spanish Presidency, he said, was to reach a final

agreement in December, which would allow the incoming Belgian Presidency to make

the final technical adjustments required before the end of the current legislative cycle.

In his conclusion he said that this was the right time to reach a final agreement on the

Pact, and that the EU could not afford to miss this opportunity, therefore both

co-legislators had to compromise and be flexible. The Pact would not be perfect but it

should at least be effective, practical, fair and well-balanced. It would provide a better

legal framework than the one which currently exists, and provide better responses to the

current reality, and in addition it would provide something very important, Mr

GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

concluded, as it would send out an unprecedented

message of unity in the field of migration.

Address by the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ms Ylva JOHANSSON

Ms JOHANSSON took part in the proceedings online.

In her opening, she thanked the Spanish Presidency for the possibility to address

COSAC, and apologised for not being able to take part in person. She agreed with

everything minister GRANDE-MARLASKA GÓMEZ just had said regarding the Pact

on Migration and Asylum, and her address would therefore focus on some additional

issues of importance for the overall management of migration which were not formally

part of the Pact.

First, Ms JOHANSSON highlighted the need to invest in legal pathways and legal

opportunities for people to come to the EU. She argued that in order to prevent illegal

arrivals the EU needed to invest in legal opportunities for migration. She referred to the

High-Level Conference on legal migration, organised by the Spanish Presidency in

Madrid 16-17 November, as an important event in which a number of ideas were

outlined on how the EU could work with partner countries on labour migration.

Second, she underlined the need to fight and counter migrant smuggling. The migrant

smuggling networks were strong, international and organised in mafia-like structures,

and to counter them the Commission had worked on new legislation which she was to

present the following day. At the same time a new Global Alliance to Counter Migrant

Smuggling, initiated by the President of the European Commission Ursula VON DER

LEYEN, would meet for the first time in Brussels on the following day.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Third, she highlighted the EU's relations with third countries, and the need for close

cooperation. As an example, Ms JOHANSSON mentioned the high-level dialogues on

migration and security with Türkiye. To manage migration, close cooperation with

partner countries was a necessity, she argued.

Lastly, she commented briefly on the ongoing negotiations on the Pact on Migration and

Asylum. Ms JOHANSSON confirmed that trilogue negotiations were ongoing in all

remaining parts of the Pact, and that she took part personally in the trilogue meetings.

The level of commitment to reach an agreement from the co-legislators was impressive,

she noted, and they also possessed a shared understanding of the necessity of making

compromises. She referred to minister GRANDE-MARLASKA GÓMEZ' earlier

statement that a final compromise would not be perfect, but emphasised that it would

certainly be much better than the current situation. She outlined some important features

of the Pact and mentioned prevention of irregular arrivals, more swift and fair processes,

fast return for those who were not eligible for asylum, a proper system for

responsibilities and a mandatory solidarity mechanism between Member States.

She concluded by acknowledging the difficulties of reaching a final agreement on all the

remaining files in the Pact during the Spanish Presidency, but still considered this

objective to be realistic. Lastly, Ms JOHANSSON directed a special thanks to minister

GRANDE-MARLASKA GÓMEZ and his team for their professionalism, and for all the

work they have put into these negotiations.

Address by the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr Othmar

KARAS

In his introduction Mr KARAS thanked the Spanish Presidency for putting the

important topic of migration on COSAC´s agenda. He said that the debate had clearly

shown that Europe was currently experiencing more multiple crises simultaneously than

ever since 1945, and that anyone who claimed that these challenges could be easily

solved was dishonest. To deny the complexity of these multiple crises was the biggest

problem in contemporary political debate and it should be acknowledged that there were

no simple answers. He further argued that this complexity must be explained and

debated even if it was unpopular and exhausting.

He recalled that, in the past, Europe had achieved more integration in times of crisis,

which had made the EU stronger. Until 2015 the EU had learned the right lessons from

crises, but regarding migration policy the EU had failed. This failure was not just the

fault of the EU institutions, but Member States were also responsible, due to their lack

of political will for a European solution, and for their willingness to continue with a

non-functional national patchwork.

Mr KARAS expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the European Parliament and

the Council had been negotiating on the Pact on Migration and Asylum since March,

and he appealed to the Member States to agree on the Pact before Christmas. He further

welcomed that both minister GRANDE-MARLASKA GÓMEZ representing the

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Council, and Commissioner JOHANSSON, had expressed hope for the Pact to be

approved during the Spanish Presidency.

Mr KARAS outlined the four core elements of the reform: harmonised registration and

screening to avoid double work and inefficiencies; efficient asylum procedures at the

EU's external borders to differentiate between refugees and labour migrants; a solidarity

mechanism to relocate asylum seekers fairly within the EU; and a new crisis and force

majeure regulation intended to address situations of crisis and force majeure in the field

of migration and asylum in the EU. With the new Pact in place, Mr KARAS noted, a

system and a common set of rules would be established in the EU that distributed

responsibilities and tasks more fairly, and would also function in times of crisis. He

considered this would be a huge step forward, but acknowledged that, for the future,

much more was needed and listed some main points.

First, the protection of EU's external borders must become an EU competence,

organised, supervised and financed by the EU. Second, the EU's external borders must

be identical to the Schengen border. Third, the EU needed common and uniform asylum

procedures for legal migration. Fourth, the EU needed to separate between asylum

migrants and labour migrants. Fifth, and in the long run, the EU needed a strong and

coordinated migration, integration, education policy and asylum management. All this

could be done, Mr KARAS argued, and an agreement of the present Pact on Migration

and Asylum under the Spanish Presidency would be a first good step.

In his closing remarks, Mr KARAS stated that in order to achieve common goals we had

to work together and expressed his optimism for the future.

In the following debate close to 50 speakers took the floor.

Many of the speakers underlined the

need of approving the Pact on Migration and

Asylum as soon as possible,

amongst others, Mr Pere Joan PONS Spanish

Cortes

Generales,

Mr Domenec RUIZ DEVESA,

European Parliament,

Ms Karin

BROUWERS, Belgian

Sénat/Senaat,

Pieyre-Alexandre ANGLADE,

French Assemblée

nationale,

Mr Beppe FENECH ADAMI, Maltese

Kamra tad-Deputati,

Ms Maria Emília

APOLINÁRIO

Portuguese Assembleia da República,

Mr Vlad Mircea PUFU,

Romanian

Senat,

Ms Maria Emília APOLINÁRIO Portuguese

Assembleia da

República,

Mr Dimtris KOUVELAS Greek

Voulí ton Ellínon.

Mr Rihards KOLS, Latvian

Saeima

and Mr Norbert KLEINWÄCHTER, German

Bundestag

on the contrary argued that today was

not the right time for the EU to

agree on a Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The

EU’s need for migration

e.g., to address labour market needs and to tackle the

EU´s demographic problems was raised by Mr Luís CAPOULAS SANTOS, Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

Mr RUIZ DEVESA, Ms Nathalie OLIVEIRA, Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

Mr Ruairí Ó MURCHÚ, Irish

Houses of the Oireachtas: Dáil

Eireann

and Mr Burhan KAYATÜRK, Republic of Türkiye

Büyük Millet Meclisi.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

The instrumentalization of migration

and the use of migrants to destabilise the EU

was raised by several speakers including Mr Heikki AUTTO, Finnish

Eduskunta,

Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuanian

Seimas,

Mr KOLS, and Mr Ioannis PLAKIOTAKIS,

Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon.

The need for an increased focus in the debate on

the root causes to migration

was

raised by Mr Anton HOFREITER, German

Bundestag.

The necessity for the EU to have

a migration policy

based on fairness, dignity and which assured protection for

people in need

was raised by Ms Latifa GAHOUCHI, Belgian

Sénat/Senaat,

Ms Eva

BIAUDET, Finnish

Eduskunta,

Ms Eirini DOUROU, Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon,

and Mr

Lavdrim KRASHI, Albanian

Kuvendi.

The argument that

migration policy

mainly should be a

responsibility for national

governments

was raised by Mr Bruno NUNES, Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

who together with Mr KLEINWÄCHTER also argued that

voters should be consulted

on migration issues

specifically.

After the debate minister GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

was invited to close the

session and thanked all participants, which he thought clearly had shown that migration

was a complex issue, and rather must be seen as a phenomenon rather than a problem.

He noted that most speakers had called for an immediate agreement on the Pact on

Migration and Asylum, which mainly concerned the internal dimension of migration

policy, noting that previous Presidencies, as well as the current Spanish Presidency, had

worked hard to conclude negotiations. He reiterated that flexibility and compromises

were needed, and the possibility of reaching a final comprehensive agreement on the

Pact was an opportunity which could not be missed. A “jumbo” trilogue was to take

place on 7 December, and Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

expressed high hopes

and huge expectations on reaching a final political agreement at that meeting, and made

a final appeal for flexibility.

Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

referred to the debate and noted that even if the

different regulations and instruments in the Pact, in principle, only concerned the EU’s

internal migration and asylum management system, many participants had debated the

external dimension. He agreed on the importance of the external dimension of the EU’s

migration and asylum policy, and said that the EU must continue to work with countries

of origin and transit countries to counter irregular migration, and to fight migrant

smuggling. He further noted that people first and foremost left their home countries

because of climate change, hunger, conflicts and wars, and not because of the EU’s

migration rules and procedures.

In the closing remarks, he thanked all the previous Presidencies and the negotiation

teams in the different EU institutions involved for their work, which made him

relatively optimistic regarding a final political compromise on the Pact in the coming

weeks. It was an opportunity the EU could not miss, Mr GRANDE-MARLASKA

GÓMEZ

concluded.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

5. S

ESSION

III. E

NERGY CRISIS AND GREEN TRANSITION

Mr José Ignacio LANDALUCE CALLEJA, co-Chair of the Delegation of the Spanish

Cortes Generales

before the COSAC, opened the session by introducing the topic and

two keynote speakers.

Address by the Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur on the State

of the Energy Union, Mr Nicolás GONZÁLEZ CASARES

Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES started by thanking COSAC for the invitation to speak

about the energy transition and crisis amongst members of national Parliaments, since it

was important to know the views in different Member States. He noted that the energy

crisis came about in a context marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and, notably,

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As Russia was the main supplier of gas to Europe through

gas pipelines, cutting European imports had limited the capital flow reaching Putin’s

hands, but it had also resulted in an important increase of the price of gas in Europe. He

acknowledged that while some countries were more dependent on Russian gas than

others, all European countries were impacted and had to look for alternative gas

suppliers and other sources.

Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES highlighted the links between the energy crisis and the

green transition, recalling that the Green Deal started in 2019 with the proposal for the

European Climate Law and the Fit for 55 package, which focused on the reduction of

carbon emissions and the fight against climate change. The goal of reducing emissions

by 55% by 2030 was the reason why many new legislative pieces have been proposed or

amended, including the renewable energy directive, the energy efficiency directive, the

carbon border adjustment mechanism and the decarbonization of land- maritime and

aerial transport. Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES stressed that it was important that Member

States translated these directives into national legislation to ensure their implementation.

Furthermore he recalled that measures such as lowering heating in buildings across

Europe have shown that Europe was capable of reducing gas consumption by 10%. Mr

GONZÁLEZ CASARES referred to the high energy prices for both citizens and

governments, and noted that the reduction of energy demand was overall a positive

development, but that some of it came at the expense of a reduction in industrial

demand, putting the productive sectors at risk. Following the critical moment faced in

the winter of 2021-2022, the EU had to speed up the energy transition, by amongst

others launching the REPowerEU initiative. In his capacity as rapporteur for the

proposal for a regulation to improve the Union’s electricity market design

GONZÁLEZ CASARES stated that all the actors in the negotiations were working

together to reach an agreement by the end of the year, and have this officially adopted

before the June 2024 European elections.

COM/2023/148 final. Full report available at

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2023-0255_EN.html

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES then outlined the main objective of this reform of the

electricity market: to reduce the volatility of electricity prices by using tools that can be

useful in the medium and long term, such as the promotion of renewable energy sources,

which had the lowest cost in the market and would be translated into the price of the

electricity paid by consumers. He noted that different tools were being used for lowering

the electricity prices for consumers, and that the regulation would also facilitate sharing

energy between individuals, companies and public institutions that produce their own

energy and other consumers.

Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES stressed that the concern for consumers and attention to the

social dimension of the energy crisis was guiding this reform. In fact, he reminded that

in Europe more than 40 million people suffered from energy poverty, had trouble paying

for their electricity bill, and struggled to heat their homes in winter. He also underlined

the importance of adapting the definition of energy poverty to the specific contexts of

different EU Member States.

Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES noted that the energy transition and the fight against

climate change required decisive and united actions, and called for creating alliances

with European citizens in order for them to understand the benefits of renewable energy.

Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES concluded by stressing that climate change was one of the

most important common challenges, warning about the risks posed by discourses that

denied or minimised its impact, and stressed the need for Europe to show a committed

political position in the fight against climate change. On the eve of the COP28 climate

conference, he stressed the importance of multilateral solutions and for Europe to lead

the world and become the first continent to be climate neutral by 2050.

Address by the member of the German

Bundestag,

Mr Gunther KRICHBAUM

Mr KRICHBAUM opened his intervention by agreeing with Mr GONZÁLEZ

CASARES in pointing out that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was a game changer

not only for security, but also in terms of energy. He added that the COVID-19

pandemic also had a great impact on energy prices. These events had pushed the EU to

ask itself how it could remain internationally competitive, and what conclusions could it

draw from its dependency on fossil fuels.

Mr KRICHBAUM noted that many EU Member States had already seen the impact of

climate change with terrible floods, heatwaves and droughts which were having a

negative effect on agriculture and on society at large. For example the reduction of the

flow of water in France last summer, which posed a problem for the cooling water in

nuclear power stations. Furthermore, beyond the European borders, there were large

areas in Africa that suffered from desertification and were no longer able to feed their

populations. If there were no living conditions and jobs in Northern Africa, there would

be a migration towards the North, Mr KRICHBAUM added. The EU needed to act, as

this could have a direct impact on it. He quoted figures showing that Germany

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

represented only 1% of the global population, but produced 2% of the global carbon

emissions.

While the context was different in each Member Stad, all of them had great potential for

promoting renewable energy, expressed Mr KRICHBAUM. For instance, he noted that

Sweden produced 60% of its energy from renewable sources, Denmark, Iceland and

Finland were all above 40% in their share of renewable energy use. He then pointed to

other relevant examples across Member states. Spain had fixed a goal of meeting 48%

of its energy needs, and 81% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by

2030. Denmark significantly increased its renewable energy production by 49 wind

turbines. Portugal had a large potential for solar power. The Netherlands had invested in

swimming solar panels and in nitrogen. Austria was strongly invested in the production

of renewable energy, and major hydropower initiatives were taking place. On the other

hand, energy transport and interconnection were also essential, noting that Romania had

made huge progress and would soon be a net exporter of energy. Mr KRICHBAUM

stressed in relation to this, the need for Romania to be a member of Schengen.

Mr KRICHBAUM noted that all of these examples were chosen to illustrate how the

energy crisis, and the high energy prices could in fact be seen as an opportunity to

advance the renewable energy transition, notably by investment in critical infrastructure

including electricity grids and connections. Looking to other energy sources, such as

nuclear, he noted that Germany had made the mistake of transforming the energy debate

into an ideological one. While no energy source could be perfect, nuclear energy was

effectively CO

neutral. He acknowledged that it was the disposal of nuclear waste that

had not been perfected. He considered that wind, solar and hydro energy were not

necessarily the cheapest energy sources, but had the great advantage of reducing energy

dependency, which was essential in the pursuit for open strategic autonomy.

Mr KRICHBAUM stressed the necessity for long-term strategies, for taking

responsibility and for investing more in research for alternative energy sources, notably

nuclear fusion. He took the opportunity to stress, in his 35th COSAC, the importance of

the role of national Parliaments to discuss matters on energy in COSAC, but also to

plead to continually insist on direct implementation of these directives.

During the ensuing debate, 42 speakers took the floor.

Multiple speakers made the

connection between the green transition and other

factors.

Ms Eliane TILLIEUX, Belgian

Chambre des représentants/Kamer van

Volksvertegenwoordigers,

and Mr Pietro LOREFICE, Italian

Senato della Repubblica,

stated that the link between the green and digital transition was essential. The social and

economic aspects of the green transition could not be ignored, stated Mr Anton

HOFREITER, German

Bundestag,

Mr LOREFICE, Ms Eirini DOUROU, Greek

Vouli

ton Ellinon,

and Mr Claude KERN, French

Sénat.

Ms Matilda ERNKRANS, Swedish

Riksdag,

and Mr Gilles VANDEN BURRE, Belgian

Chambre des représentants/Kamer

van volksvertegenwoordigers,

linked the green transition with migration challenges. The

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

droughts, forest fires and other impacts of climate change were one of the root causes of

migration. These climate-induced migrations needed to be avoided, they underlined.

During the debate, numerous members mentioned the

need for cooperation among EU

Member States.

Mr Doménec RUIZ DEVESA, European Parliament, referred to the

system agreed for Spain and Portugal in which there was a decoupling of gas and

electricity prices. He stated that this could be a useful tool for the whole of the EU, and

called to put in place shared systems and strategic reserves to tackle the energy crisis

and shortages. Mr Edmund CEPURÏTIS, Latvian

Saeima,

Mr Ioannis PLAKIOTAKIS,

Greek

Vouli ton Ellinon,

Mr Pieyre-Alexandre ANGLADE, French

Assamblée

Nationale,

Mr Péter BALASSA, Hungarian

Országgyűlés,

Mr Chrisis PANTELIDES,

Cypriot

Vouli ton Antiprosopon,

Mr Vlad Mircea PUFU, Romanian

Senat,

Mr João

Paulo REBELO,

Portuguese Assembleia da República

and Ms Marietta KARAMANLI,

French

Assemblée nationale,

underlined in their interventions that coordination among

Member States was necessary and common grids should be installed with collective

investments in common infrastructure. Mr PANTELIDES gave the example of the

connection between Cyprus, Greece and Israel. Mr PUFU added that there was a need

for more coordination in nuclear energy, whilst Mr REBELO stressed that solidarity was

also key. Mr Hårek ELVENES, Norwegian

Stortinget,

stated that closer cooperation

with Norway would help the energy question.

Ms ERNKRANS, Mr Pere Joan PONS, Spanish

Cortes Generales,

Ms DOUROU and

Mr Ruairí Ó MURCHÚ, Irish Houses of the Oireachtas:

Dáil Eireann,

stressed that

citizens and the most vulnerable groups could not be left behind.

Mr Bastiaan VAN

APELDOORN, Dutch

Eerste Kamer,

added that the energy transition needed to be just

and green. Mr Franc BREZNIK, Slovenian

Državni zbor,

and Mr VAN APPELDOORN

welcomed the ambitious agreement on the due diligence directive to reduce energy

poverty. Mr Pim WALENKAMP, Dutch

Eerste Kamer,

noted that the solutions and

obligations derived from the energy transition needed to be kept affordable and feasible

in order to not ignore the needs of groups such as the elderly, disabled, SMEs and

farmers.

Furthermore, several speakers, including Mr CEPURÏTIS, Mr Ó MURCHÚ, Mr

HOFREITER, Mr Ján FERENČÁK, Slovak

Národná rada,

Mr LOREFICE, Ms

DOUROU, Mr Stefanos PARASTATIDIS, Greek

Voulí ton Ellínon,

Mr Dimtris

KOUVELAS Greek

Voulí ton Ellínon,

stressed the importance of

creating new policies

with renewable energy in mind,

and to focus more on these renewables.

Green

hydrogen energy

was mentioned as a solution in the green transition by Ms

TILLIEUX, Mr Firmino MARQUES, Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

and Ms

Emma NOHRÉN, Swedish

Riksdag.

Mr Alessandro CATTANEO, Italian

Camera dei

Deputati,

pointed out that some directives under the Fit for 55 package were too rigid

and ideological. Mr Pieyre-Alexandre ANGLADE, French

Assemblée Nationale,

pointed out that a combination of saving energy, promoting nuclear energy and

renewables was necessary to succeed in the transition. Mr KERN also pointed out the

need to balance nuclear and renewable sources , whereas Mr Matt LÖFSTRÖM, Finnish

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Eduskunta,

referred to the balance between coal and nuclear energy. Mr Vladimír

ZLÍNSKÝ, Czech

Poslanecká sněmovna,

stressed that there should be more focus on

researching the potential of nuclear fusion. Mr FERENČÁK mentioned that there was a

new focus on geothermal energy in Slovakia, as a renewable energy source.

Different speakers tackled the subject of

climate change.

Mr Jorge BUXADÉ

VILLALBA, European Parliament and Mr BREZNIK warned against green idealism.

Mr BUXADÉ VILLALBA claimed that the

green transition was being pushed

through by elites

and this risked alienating citizens, while Mr BREZNIK made a call

for “green realism” in the measures to be adopted. Mr Ó MURCHÚ, Mr HOFREITER,

Mr VANDEN BURRE, Mr WALENKAMP and Mr LOREFICE noted the signals of

unprecedented weather already being felt, and the clear scientific evidence to claim that

climate change was a present challenge that needed to be tackled. Mr HOFREITER

stressed in particular the situation around the Mediterranean, with droughts, forest fires,

heat waves and the collapse of fishing populations. Mr VANDEN BURRE emphasised

that the citizens need to be informed about the challenges and measures adapted, and Mr

WALENKAMP seconded this by stating that the confidence in the government should

be restored.

The

geopolitical context of the energy crisis

was mentioned by the majority of the

speakers, including Mr ANGLADE, Mr BREZNIK, Mr FERENČÁK, Ms DOUROU,

Mr KERN, Ms Denitsa NIKOLOVA, Bulgarian

Narodno sabranie,

Mr PUFU, Mr

PARASTATIDIS, Mr Ismail Emrah KARAYEL, Republic of Türkiye

Büyük Millet

Meclisi,

Mr ELVENES, Mr Peter RICKETTS, United Kingdom

House of Lords,

David SONGULASHVILI, Georgian

Sakartvelos p'arlament'I,

Ms Ivanna

KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE, Ukrainian

Verkhovna Rada

and Mr Roman BĚLOR,

Czech

Poslanecká sněmovna.

Mr ANGLADE and Mr BREZNIK made the connection

between the war in Ukraine and the ecological disasters. Mr ANGLADE stressed that

the war had forced the

EU to become more independent

and this was coupled with

ambitious climate change goals. Ms NIKOLOVA and Mr BĚLOR added that Bulgaria

and the Czech Republic had acted quickly to become independent from Russian gas. Mr

PUFU indicated that Romania now used a mix of solar, maritime and nuclear energy. Mr

KARAYEL warned of the implications of the conflict in the Middle East for energy

supply to Europe. Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE asked for sanctions against Russia’s

nuclear agencies.

Ms DOUROU, Mr PONS and Mr MARQUES noted that in the debate of the green and

energy transition,

local solutions and decentralisation

were important. Mr KERN

added that respect for the specificities and decisions of individual Member States was an

important matter.

Continued efforts to advance the green transition were needed, stated Mr Adi GROSS,

Austrian

Bundesrat,

and Mr VANDEN BURRE. Many members of national Parliaments

also stressed the importance of

investments,

including Ms Marietta KARAMANLI,

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

French

Assemblée nationale,

Mr PLAKIOTAKIS, Mr VANDEN BURRE, Mr

LOREFICE, Ms DOUROU, Mr PARASTATIDIS and Mr LÖFSTRÖM.

Other subjects were mentioned in the debate. Mr Norbert KLEINWÄCHTER, German

Bundestag,

noted that due to the EU green deal some products had become more

expensive, and this resulted in being dependent on non-green alternatives. Mr

LÖFSTRÖM focused on the decarbonisation of shipping. Mr José Ignacio

LANDALUCE CALLEJA, Spanish

Cortes Generales,

pointed out, on the same matter,

that ports of Southern Europe risked losing competitiveness, which would be a loss of

the strategic position and potential for the EU. Mr FERENČÁK and Ms NOHRÉN

referred to the COP28 meeting that was taking place in Dubai from 30 November

through 12 December 2023. Ms NOHRÉN noted that the Paris goals would not be

attained with the current policies. Mr Arman YEGHOYAN, Chair of the Standing

Committee on European Integration of the national Assembly of the Republic of

Armenia, stated that Armenia was at the centre of the global turmoil and presented the

“Crossroads of Peace” project, with which the country wanted to be a bridge between

East and West, North and South.

In his final remarks Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES stressed that the challenges of the

climate crisis should be tackled. He referred to the situation in North Africa, which was

facing temperatures of 50°C and more, while noting that the Spanish city of Sevilla had

also reached 47°C last summer. The fight against climate change and the energy

transition made it necessary to decarbonize the EU’s energy systems. Furthermore, Mr

GONZÁLEZ CASARES stated that if business proceeded as usual, there would be steps

taken back instead of forward. With these new opportunities the EU should be ambitious

and play a leading role.

In response to the question on renewables and hydrogen energy, Mr GONZÁLEZ

CASARES stressed that the new energy sources should be clean. However, he also

acknowledged that heavy industries, such as the steel industry, could face some

challenges in changing to clean energy sources.

Furthermore, Mr GONZÁLEZ CASARES rectified some statements made by other

speakers. As to claims made by some speakers during the debate on the fact that the EU

imported more Russian gas than before the invasion of Ukraine, he dismissed them as

false information spread by populist sources. In total there was a reduction of 45% of

Russian gas, since most of it was being imported via pipelines (e.g. the Nord Stream)

which were no longer being used. However, he did note that the imports of liquified

natural gas had increased, even though these represented a small share of the total gas

used. The dependency of the EU on Russia had decreased considerably, he stated,

through the use of more renewable energy, hydrogen and biogas, which meant the EU

was shutting down the imperialist wishes of the Russian President, Mr Vladimir PUTIN.

Replying to the statement that the EU green deal proposals were ideological, Mr

GONZÁLEZ CASARES emphasised that the position of the European Parliament was

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

instead pluralistic, since it was the product of a long debate and reflected the stances and

compromises reached among seven political groups.

On nuclear energy he stated that technological neutrality was an important principle, but

the goal should be to become climate neutral. Every Member State should be free to

choose their mix of energy supply, but reducing the usage of coal and other

carbon-intensive fossil fuels was important.

In his final remarks Mr KRICHBAUM emphasised the innovations and strength in

technology that had been achieved so far. He also noted that, for industry and some raw

materials CO

was actually necessary. He also called for more research by Member

States on the energy transition and technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

Mr KRICHBAUM noted the remarks on the energy dependency of Russia and the way

Russian oil and gas reached Europe through third countries. He stressed that this

continued dependency on Russian fossil fuels through imports via intermediary

countries should be avoided.

The alternatives for energy were possible, but more expensive, stated Mr

KRICHBAUM. He stressed the importance of having this debate to pave a road towards

the green transition. He concluded by stating that Europe could only demonstrate its

worth in crisis, integration and innovation.

6. M

EETING OF THE

COSAC C

HAIRPERSONS

DISCUSSION

ONTRIBUTION AND

ONCLUSIONS OF THE

LXX COSAC

THE

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN informed the Chairpersons of the procedure regarding the

adoption of Contribution and Conclusions by the LXX COSAC, recalling that the drafts

of both texts had been circulated to all delegations on 14 November. Since then, the

Presidency had received amendments from Parliaments/Chambers within the set

deadline of 20 November. Following the discussion during the Troika meeting on 26

November, all Chairpersons had received a modified document with the support of the

majority of the Troika, as well as the amendments tabled until the deadline of 14:00 on

27 November.

Moreover, the Chair noted that the Presidency had tried to accommodate most of the

amendments in the compromise text distributed ahead of the meeting, provided they

were not contradictory with the original draft or addressed matters which were beyond

the agenda of the LXX COSAC. The purpose of the Presidency was to try to keep the

text balanced and susceptible of reaching consensus amongst delegations.

Ms JORDÁN explained the voting system, reminding participants that each Parliament

had two votes with the vote split for bi-cameral Parliaments. Moreover, and as stipulated

by Article 7.5 of the Rules of Procedure,

“COSAC shall seek to adopt contributions by

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

broad consensus. If this is not possible, contributions shall be adopted with a qualified

majority of at least 3/4 of the votes cast. The majority of 3/4 of the votes cast must at the

same time constitute at least half of all votes.”

Following some debate, especially on the Middle-East and on an amendment from the

Italian delegation on better law-making at the EU level, including a very small number

of votes, the draft Conclusions and an amended text of the draft Contribution of the

LXX COSAC were agreed.

Finally, the Chair Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN recalled that the term of office of the

incumbent permanent member of the COSAC Secretariat, Mr Bruno DIAS PINHEIRO,

was set to expire on 31 December 2023 and the Presidency had been informed that he

will not apply for a second term.

He informed the participants that the Troika had met with the only candidate for the

position, Mr Jakob SJÖVALL from the Swedish

Riksdag

the previous afternoon and, as

per Article 9.3 of the Rules of Procedure, had unanimously decided to recommend him

to the COSAC Chairpersons for appointment. In the absence of any objection, Mr

SJÖVALL’s appointment for the period 2024-2025 was confirmed.

The Chair also congratulated Mr Bruno DIAS PINHEIRO, the outgoing Permanent

Member, for his work, dedication and professionalism in the COSAC Secretariat during

the 2022-23 term, not only in supporting the Presidencies but also all the national

Parliaments.

7. S

ESSION

IV. S

ITUATION

NION

KRAINE

AND RELATIONS WITH THE

UROPEAN

Address by Admiral Juan Francisco MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ, Secretary General for

Defence Policy

Juan Francisco

MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ reminded that almost two years had passed

since the start of the cruel invasion of Russia in Ukraine and he noted that, in Spain, the

feelings on the conflict were mixed. Firstly, there was sadness for the unjust pain which

the people of Ukraine were suffering and also for the victims which were increasing

every single day. Secondly, there was admiration for the reaction of citizens, of the

government and of the armed forces of Ukraine, which from the very first day clearly

stated that Ukraine was an independent, sovereign country. Thirdly, there was a feeling

of pride, because Europe had been capable of achieving unity supporting the aggressed

and sanctioning the aggressor, even though this had led to sacrifices and scarcity for

Europeans.

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Ukraine was currently forging its way towards a new future, and Mr MARTÍNEZ

NUÑEZ cautioned that such rebirths usually only follow after a period of pain and

uncertainty. If Europe continued its support, Ukraine might achieve this rebirth soon. At

the moment, Ukraine had to make huge efforts in order to keep working as a country,

due to the brutal military conflict. Reconstruction would be difficult, but the Ukrainians

knew that the doors of Europe would never again be closed to them.

He referred to the difficult period that Spain went through between 1977 and 1986, even

though the process was not as tragic. Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ noted that the process

which led to the accession to the European Communities was demanding, but helped

change the country into a more modern and prosperous one. He expressed his belief that

Ukraine was also going to benefit from a similar path.

Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ emphasised that Ukraine was going to be a pioneer of

European modernity, and that, on its way, it would also discover its own potential. The

role of defence would be extremely useful in working towards this change: the armed

forces were basically a reflection of the society that they serve. The exemplarity of the

armed forces had always been a catalyst for true change, because it united citizens

around a project which was vital to all. This would be very important for Ukraine when

it came out of this armed conflict.

He mentioned that Spain was very proud of its support to Ukraine, since it had

welcomed refugees, supplied military material training, provided basic and specialised

training for 3000 Ukrainian soldiers, taken care of wounded people in military and

civilian hospitals and given training in international (humanitarian) law. To show one of

the ways in which Spaniards had welcomed Ukrainians, Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ

played a short voice message that he had received from a small community of nuns who

were welcoming refugees, people suffering from cancer and young children fleeing the

conflict.

According to Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ, Spain had tried to be faithful to its commitment

within the Ramstein group (Ukraine Defense Contact Group - UDCG).

Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ expressed his concerns regarding the image of NATO in the

Western world, following the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the evacuation of

Kabul, which might be seen as a lack of perseverance. Today, there were also doubts as

to how NATO could persevere in Africa. However, as soon as NATO withdrew, there

was a void which was immediately filled by other groups who did not share our values,

such as terrorist groups, mafias or countries like Russia.

The EU was facing a period of reflection and reconfiguration, as it needed to find its

place in this new world order, stated Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ. This was the reason why

it was essential to make progress on the “Europe of defence”. The EU was a project of

progress and peace, perhaps one of the most successful stories in recent history. The fact

that a Europe of defence was inherent to the project of the Union, was a difficult

message to transmit and there was still some resistance. Ukraine was going to help us

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overcome this resistance. The common European project needed to be turned away from

our individual opinions: we should talk about what united us and not so much of what

separated us.

Europe was confronted with a crucial moment regarding its future: the Europe of

defence was an essential contribution to the world it wants to live in, because a bipolar

order (United States vs. Russia and China) would take the world back to the darkness of

the Cold War. As a faithful ally of the United States, as a partner in NATO, and as true

advocates of international law, the EU should act as a moderator, introducing modern

standards and using an integrated approach. If Europe did not want to become

irrelevant, it needed to be united. Even though this would require sacrifices, Europe

needed to show solidarity in order to have a better and more attractive future. It was

very important to integrate Ukraine quickly, but without compromises, because after all,

the war in Ukraine had been a catalyst towards uniting Europeans and achieving a

common goal.

Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ concluded by expressing his conviction that Ukraine would

achieve an internal and international situation of dignity, freedom and welfare that

would be much more attractive than what Putin had in mind.

Address by the Chairperson of the Committee on EU Policies of the

Italian Senato

della Republica,

Mr Giuliomaria TERZI DI SANT’AGATA

Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA acknowledged the previous speaker’s remarks, which

were a clear indication of Europe’s common understanding, commitment and political

will to face the Russian aggression. He also highlighted the extraordinary unit of

purpose that all the EU Member States and international partners showed in support of

Ukraine. He added that there could be no just peace without the entire Ukrainian

territory returning under full control of the Kyiv government: within its internationally

recognised borders and in full respect of its own sovereignty and integrity. What was

currently happening in the world was the clear consequence of the Russian aggression

against Ukraine, because when the rules of peaceful coexistence failed, when the rules

of international law collapsed, violent outbreaks multiplied. That was why helping

Ukraine defend itself was the only way to defend the EU's common interests and values.

Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA pointed out that President Vladimir PUTIN had found a

close associate in President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO, from Belarus, who was also

responsible for all the acts committed in Ukraine. He also expressed his best wishes to

the Belarusian opposition leader, Ms Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA. He also stated his

support for Belarusians, fighting for their own freedom, hoping that Belarus may also

join the European community in a not-so-distant future.

The five regions under Russian military control in the Ukrainian territory, which had

been seized with brutal force, were a deep wound for Kyiv's sovereignty. They showed

just how blatant and unforgivable the Russian crimes were: these regions had been

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

inflicted immense damages and suffering, with serious crimes against humanity,

abduction of children, weaponisation of migration, ill-treatment of political prisoners,

persecution of dissidents, attacks on the religious freedoms and on minorities. Mr

TERZI DI SANT’AGATA condemned the referendums which had been held under the

occupation of the Russian invaders, recognised as null and void by the international

community. These territories must return in full to Ukraine and must remain a clear

evidence and symbol of the Ukrainian victory and of the Russian defeat.

Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA confirmed Europe’s unwavering commitment to support

and promote the 10-point peace plan presented by President Zelensky, which was the

fundamental linchpin of the international discussions for a just and lasting peace for

Ukraine. It was important to move forward decisively in promoting and implementing a

full respect of sanctions against Russia and against all persons that have committed

crimes and inflicted damages. The LNG exports to and through European Union

Member States must also be resolved quickly.

The deliberate attacks against Ukrainian grain storage and export facilities, but also the

weaponization of migration, were crimes against humanity, which had an impact on the

global order. Europe must have the capacity to seriously show that it was willing to

resolve this criminal attitude. The deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia and

Belarus, and their subjection to “Russification” and indoctrination, should be treated as

international crimes.

Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA pointed out that the Russian Federation was the leader in

all these crimes, and that the compensation of damages must be assured from the

Federation and its leaders. In this perspective, the revenues of frozen assets should be

directed to support Ukraine and be used to compensate for the inflicted damages.

Regarding the ongoing military operations, Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA stressed that

Kyiv needed further military aid that should address its needs in terms of air defence,

training, ammunition and winter equipment. With the winter approaching, it appeared

more important to guarantee a real air coverage for the population, but also in order to

safeguard infrastructure as much as possible.

Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA then quoted President Biden, saying that “Hamas

and

Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to

completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy”,

and that “history

has taught us that

when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for

their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction.”

Mr TERZI

DI SANT’AGATA recalled the need to strengthen, at European level, all measures

possible to prevent and combat external interference, including through disinformation

and the widespread use of new technologies. Russia, but also China and Iran, were

engaging in these activities in a structured and sophisticated way. This was extremely

important, in view of the next election to the European Parliament.

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Last but not least, Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA expressed his satisfaction with the

proposal that the European Commission had made to the European Council for starting

the enlargement negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova, and for granting candidate status

to Georgia. With that regard, he highlighted the importance of what was achieved by

Ukraine that far, notwithstanding the terrible tragedy its population was suffering and

the difficulties its Government was facing. In fact, Ukraine had shown an exemplary

willingness and capacity to implement most of the seven main chapters which were

requested to Kyiv, with the three remaining chapters being close to implementation. He

also alluded to the other countries which had obtained candidate status, were working

seriously to get into the European Union, but were still awaiting for the opening of

negotiations.

Address by the Chairperson of Ukraine’s European Union Integration Committee

of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ms Ivanna KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE

Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE started by expressing her gratitude towards the

Spanish Presidency for keeping Ukraine high on the European agenda. She also

reminded everyone that Ukraine was commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Great

Famine, called Holodomor, which was the genocidal attack of the Soviet authorities in

the 1930’s on Ukrainian people, trying to erase them from the map of the world for their

spirit, and for their desire to be Ukrainian. If Europe had not turned a blind eye and had

taken action to punish the Bolshevik regime the same way it punished the Nazi regime,

the situation might have been different today. The Russian Federation was at present

continuing exactly what they did in the 1930’s. Ukraine was grateful to all the

parliaments of the countries that have decided to commemorate the Holodomor and

recognise it as a genocide against Ukrainians and wished that all European countries

would step up to acknowledge this historic truth.

Ukraine had shown the world its courage, its bravery, its resolve and its incredible

resilience, Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE stated. Ukraine was fighting for something

that everyone in Europe believed in, which was freedom of choice, democracy, the right

to build a prosperous country based on the rule of law within its recognised borders and

where dignity of each person was recognised. She then gave a few examples of the

vicious and brutal attacks by the Russian Federation, including the launch of an Iskander

ballistic missile on a small village where people had gathered to mourn the death of a

soldier, and the attack on a postal service terminal in another small village. Russia had

indeed restarted its attacks on energy infrastructures and civilian residence buildings.

In one night, 76 attack drones had attacked Ukrainian cities, 66 of them targeting Kyiv.

Fortunately, the air defence forces were able to take down 98% of the drones, thanks to

the weapons and air defence capabilities provided by other countries. Whilst being

sincerely grateful, Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE asked to increase the quality and

the quantity of the delivered materials. Only the full mobilisation of resources and

capabilities of the free world would lead to defeat Russia. This defeat was imperative,

because Ukrainians were dreaming of focusing exclusively on recovery, on

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

reconstruction, on transformation, on European and Euro-Atlantic integration and on

social, economic and environmental policies.

Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE warned that freezing of the conflict, allowing Russia

to regroup and attack with new force, or trading Ukrainian territory for so-called peace

in Europe, would never lead to anything close to lasting and sustainable peace in Europe

and around the world. The EU pledged to provide Ukraine with one million shells over

the year, which, for an economic giant of that type, was possible. But Ukraine needed

more of everything: radio-electronic equipment, drones, demining equipment, tanks,

long-range missiles, artillery pieces, Howitzers, planes, etc.

Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE again expressed her gratitude for the support, but

asked to step up the efforts in the Member States. Fear and hesitation were feeding

Russia, which was not only attacking Ukraine militarily, but was also attacking

European countries in different ways: by weaponizing migration, by misinformation

campaigns, by supporting radicals that were already gaining ground in some of the older

European states, etc. Russia would readily allocate additional efforts and resources to

further fuel radicals, destroying the unity and monolithic nature of Europe.

Ukraine was grateful to all the allies that are part of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance

for confirming that its future is inside NATO, but recalled that time was ticking in the

lead-up to the Washington Summit in July 2024. Whilst Ukraine was ready to do its

homework to transform its procedures and its approaches in order to be compatible with

NATO countries in all senses, it also needed the allies to be courageous enough to take

the decision and invite Ukraine into NATO, already in Washington next year. Giving

Russia a signal that Ukrainian membership was impossible during wartime would only

encourage the Russian Federation to continue this war endlessly. Ms

KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE emphasised that taking a robust decision meant showing

strength, unity and power.

Granting candidate status to Ukraine towards EU membership was definitely a historic,

even tectonic, decision, she added. The recent positive report and recommendation of

the European Commission confirmed Ukraine’s success in transforming the country

along the European Commission's recommendations, despite having to fight this brutal,

barbaric war for survival. Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE underlined that transforming

the EU not only into an economic giant, but also into a geopolitical giant, would be

realised by the soon-to-come decision of the European Council. She expressed her hope

that every single national government would take another historic decision in December

2023, by opening up the possibility for accession negotiations to all other aspiring

nations.

To conclude her opening address, Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE called on the

Member States to join Ukraine on its difficult and lengthy journey, building together a

free, prosperous, democratic and strong Europe. Europe was not helping Ukraine out of

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

charity or pity, it was making a serious investment in its own security, enabling a free,

whole, peaceful, and united Europe and appealing to other parts of the world.

During the ensuing debate, 44 speakers took the floor.

Besides an

unwavering support towards Ukraine,

two themes were addressed by a

majority of speakers, namely the necessity to

step up Europe’s defence production

and the importance of

accelerating enlargement.

Mr Hans WALLMARK, Swedish

Riksdag,

referred to a recent Swedish report which

stated that

Russia is a nationalistic, imperialistic power

which is moving back to

Stalinism. If Russia did not lose this war, it would be rolled out to other countries. This

view was shared by Mr Kim VALENTIN, Danish

Folketing,

who said that there could

only be peace if Ukraine won the war.

Mr Pere Joan PONS, Spanish

Cortes Generales,

warned that Europe before or after the

war would not be the same. He expressed his support for

accession of the Western

Balkans

as well, supported in this by

Mr Luis Jesús URIBE-ETXEBARRIA

APALATEGUI, Spanish

Cortes Generales.

Mr Alessandro CATTANEO, Italian

Camera dei Deputati,

confirmed that the Western Balkans were proceeding with

courageous reforms and that this presented an opportunity, from a geostrategic point of

view. The Russian aggression had made it clear that there was an interdependence

between the southern shores of the Mediterranean and the European Union regarding

migration flows, energy, trade, etc. Europe needed to

set up common policies

in these

areas

supported by sufficient resources.

Another important point made by Mr PONS, was that enlargement should go hand in

hand with the

deepening of the EU project,

making sure we have a very

strong civil

society.

This point was supported by Mr Gaëtan VAN GOIDSENHOVEN, Belgian

Sénat/Senaat,

who stated that the methods and processes towards this deepening could

be addressed during the upcoming Belgian presidency of the Council of the European

Union. Mr Didier MARIE, French

Sénat,

added that Europe needed to ask itself how it

could welcome these new countries in the best possible conditions, for them and for

itself.

Mr Bastiaan VAN APELDOORN, Dutch

Eerste Kamer,

shared these concerns and

called for an

internal reform of the EU.

He emphasised the importance for both future

and present Member States to adhere to the principles laid down in Article 2 of the EU

Treaty, which stated that the Union was founded on the values of respect for human

dignity, freedom, democracy and equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Europe should not only ask Ukraine to make reforms with regards to the rule of law, but

also make its own reforms and guarantee present and future enforcement of rule of law

principles. The road ahead was long, so we should not only intensify our efforts, but we

should also manage our expectations.

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The

withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine

was also indicated as a priority

for Mr VAN GOIDSENHOVEN. Belgium had thus worked, together with the

Netherlands and Denmark, towards the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Mr URIBE-ETXEBARRIA APALATEGUI, Mr Anton HOFREITER, German

Bundestag,

Mr MARIE, Mr Marko PAVIĆ, Croatian

Hrvatski Sabor,

Mr Gunther

KRICHBAUM, German

Bundestag,

Mr Peter RICKETTS, United Kingdom

House of

Lords

and Mr Matt LÖFSTRÖM, Finnish

Eduskunta,

all supported the idea of

increasing Ukraine’s offensive tools and ammunitions,

not only the defensive ones.

Mr HOFREITER and Mr Rihards KOLS, Latvian

Saeima,

warned that Russia’s war

economy was working very intensely, and that Europe should speed up its munitions

production. If Europe would commit 1% of its GDP to support Ukraine militarily, we

could see the tables turned around and we could then really say “until

Ukraine is

victorious”

instead of the words “as

long as it's necessary”.

Mr Ján FERENČÁK, Slovak

Národná Rada,

stated that his country

would not

participate in the supply of military attack equipment

to Ukraine at the

governmental level. The Slovak government will however not prevent commercial

initiatives in which entities of the Slovak defence industry participate.

Mr Chrisis PANTELIDES, Cypriot

Vouli ton Antiprosopon,

called on Europe to see the

new reality in which we live. He also addressed the need to

improve our capacity of

defending the interests of the European Union,

as well as defending our citizens. In

the past, Europe had turned a blind eye to the authoritarian models and systems of

Russia, and more recently with regards to Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Third countries

would need to prove their respect for democracy, human rights and for their

neighbouring countries, if these were to aspire to become members of the European

Union.

Mr URIBE-ETXEBARRIA APALATEGUI, noted that the

victory of Ukraine was

matter of security for all Europeans.

The integration of Ukraine would be a strong

political and strategic signal for the EU. The speaker also made the case for

enlargement towards Moldova and Georgia.

Mr Kim VALENTIN, Danish

Folketinget,

found that enlargement to 35 would only work if everyone was a little more

generous and looked a bit beyond their own backyard.

Mr Luís CAPOULAS SANTOS, Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

expressed his

concern that the

rehashing of the conflict in the Middle East

could go in the favour of

the Russian interests, a viewpoint supported by Mr Vasile DÎNCU, Romanian

Senat

and

Mr MARIE. Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS called on everyone to

condemn the barbaric

attacks from Hamas.

However, if we found the protection of human rights so important in Ukraine,

we could

not sit idle to the number of victims, children, killed by the Israeli defence forces in

Gaza.

Mr İsmail Emrah KARAYEL, Republic of Türkiye

Büyük Millet Meclisi,

called

for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

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Mr CAPOULAS SANTOS took note that the

demand for equal treatment

was not

made clearer in the draft Contributions of the LXX COSAC.

Mr Ruairí Ó MURCHÚ,

Irish

Houses of the Oireachtas: Dáil Eireann,

Mr Burhan KAYATÜRK and Ms Zuhal

Karakoç DORA, Republic of Türkiye

Büyük Millet Meclisi,

and Mr Åsmund

AUKRUST, Norwegian

Storting,

stated that there was

no need for double standards,

calling

out Netanyahu's Israel for its war crimes. Mr PLAKIOTAKIS and

Mr Ó

MURCHÚ

warned that the military operation in Gaza, although unrelated to the

Ukrainian war, needed to be addressed by the EU and the West in a way that would

not

alienate a large proportion of the global south,

which attached more importance to

the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr DÎNCU supported the concept of a

Europe of defence

as mentioned by Admiral

Juan Francisco Martínez Nuñez in his opening address. This was really a question about

the future of the European project: Europe without solidarity would no longer be

Europe.

Amongst others, Mr FERENČÁK, Mr Ioannis PLAKIOTAKIS, Greek

Vouli ton

Ellinon,

Ms Luisa RÕIVAS, Estonian

Riigikogu,

Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbian

Narodna

skupština,

Mr KARAYEL and Ms Maka BOTCHORISHVILI, Georgian

Sakartvelos

p'arlament'I,

confirmed their country’s support of the

sovereignty and territorial

integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognised borders.

The primary concern

was to ensure that the war on the territory of Ukraine ended and did not

escalate into a

larger conflict.

This concern was shared by Mr HOFREITER, who therefore asked to

put more pressure on governments.

Mr KRICHBAUM added that if Putin got his way

in Ukraine, he would be moving on to Georgia and to Moldova.

Mr FERENČÁK finally pointed out that Slovakia’s support would focus on defence

equipment and on the humanitarian and development field, and highlighted that the

Slovak Republic had significantly helped almost one million refugees from Ukraine,

representing almost 20% of the Slovakian population.

Mr Niels Flemming HANSEN, Danish

Folketing,

warned that the war in the Middle

East should not draw attention away from Ukraine. Both Mr HANSEN and Mr Thomas

HACKER, German

Bundestag,

expressed their concern with the

tendency that some

countries had shown recently to withdraw their military support.

If more countries,

or even the United States of America would follow suit, Russia would get bigger and

bigger, and Europe smaller and smaller. Humanitarian support was necessary, but it was

military support that would win the war.

Mr Heikki AUTTO, Finnish

Eduskunta,

and Mr RICKETTS advocated for an

increase

of sanctions

against Russia,

their more effective implementation and the avoidance

of evasion

through third countries. EU countries had more than 200 billion dollars'

worth of funds from Russia. These

funds had to be used to support Ukraine now and

during the reconstruction.

Ms Radvilė MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ, Lithuanian

Seimas,

Ms Vladimíra MARCINKOVÁ, Slovakian

Národná rada,

and Mr Vadym

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

HALAICHUK, Ukrainian

Verkhovna Rada,

looked forward to adopting the

twelfth

sanctions package.

Mr Ioannis PLAKIOTAKIS mentioned Greece’s support for the establishment of

alternative routes to

facilitate export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural

products.

The ports of Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli, which were situated in the

northern part of Greece, could offer gateways for supplies and goods to and from

Ukraine. A similar stance was taken by Romania: Ms Mirela FURTUNĂ, Romanian

Camera Deputatilor,

announced they would continue to assist in the solidarity lanes and

to increase the transit to Romanian ports, while taking into account the legitimate needs

and demands of Romanian farmers and producers.

Mr Ó MURCHÚ underlined that Ireland understands what occupation was, and the

importance of self-determination. Europe, when it comes to these international conflicts,

had to

be absolutely sound on international law and humanitarian law for all.

Ms MORKŪNAITĖ-MIKULĖNIENĖ reminded everyone that history tended to repeat

itself and that for half of Europe, the war didn't end in 1945. Half of Europe experienced

the very same things that Ukraine was currently experiencing.

Mr Fernand KARTHEISER, Luxembourg

Chambre des députés,

gave a brief overview

on the origins of the Ukrainian conflict and concluded that

Western countries had a

share of the responsibility in this conflict.

Europe must therefore promote peace

negotiations rather than a new Cold War. Peace in Europe was indivisible and must be

built on the basis of the Istanbul principles.

Ms FURTUNĂ focused on the support that was given by the Romanian population,

especially the women, towards their Ukrainian neighbours. Romania fully

supported

the Ukrainian peace formula

as the way to a fair, lasting and sustainable peace.

Ms MARCINKOVÁ asked how it was possible to have someone around the table

during the conference who was an ally of Putin and who went against the main goal of

Europe, which is peace?

Stronger measures should be taken against those leaders

who sabotage and weaken the role of the EU globally

and damage its image in the

world. People in these countries had to realise and learn that they had elected leaders

that damaged their countries. Ms MARCINKOVÁ stated that the

EU was also at war

with Russia:

a hybrid, economic and political war which Europe would win, she

believed.

According to Ms Denitsa SIMEONOVA, Bulgarian

Narodno sabranie,

Bulgaria

remained at the forefront of efforts to assist Ukraine in any way possible until all those

responsible for the crimes, violations and abuses committed against them are brought to

justice. Bulgaria

welcomed the recently adopted enlargement report of the

European Commission,

which recommended opening accession negotiations with

Ukraine and Moldova and granting Georgia candidate status.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Mr Stefanos PARASTATIDIS, Greek

Voulí ton Ellínon,

congratulated the people of the

countries mentioned in this report for their efforts and their dedication to the goal of

integration. He also pointed out that, as important as it was for candidate countries to

produce results in terms of reforms, it was also important for the European Union to

provide the rights and advantages to them according to their progress.

The

enlargement process was indeed a source of concern and controversy within the

European Union. However, it is crucial to send the right message to the citizens, so as

not to provoke a sense of futility as has largely happened in the case of the Western

Balkans. Moreover,

the accession path of each country must be based on the

progress it makes and the achievement of specific goals.

Greece did not agree to fast

track procedures: the rules should be the same for everyone. Mr HALAICHUK pointed

out that Ukraine was not looking for shortcuts, it just did not want to fall into the trap of

endless negotiations as the Western Balkan countries had done. The procedures were

clear and the

Verkhovna Rada

is currently focusing on the implementation of European

legislation.

Once Ukraine had won the war, Mr VALENTIN highlighted, it would be a

huge task to

build up the country again

and to rediscover peace in Europe. Mr RICKETTS

mentioned that the City of London would be important in mobilising private finance for

that reconstruction. However, in order to unlock that, Ukraine needed to work with the

EU on the issue of corruption.

Mr Pietro LOREFICE, Italian

Senato della Repubblica,

noted that the European Union

had not really called for a request to start peace negotiations and encouraged the

countries to try and

use diplomatic channels in the best possible way

to put an end to

the conflict. Mr HALAICHUK replied that Russia was not looking for a diplomatic

resolution of the conflict. In fact, Russia had been manipulating public opinion,

sabotaging international organisations and raising their defence budget to over 120

billion dollars.

Mr KOLS also talked about

the notion of war fatigue

that was echoing in political

corridors in Europe. If fatigue had clouded the judgement of nations at pivotal moments

in history, we would not have the Europe we are cherishing today. Ukraine stood at a

critical juncture, facing

the threat of frozen conflict,

which it refused to accept, and so

must Europe.

Mr PAVIĆ announced that the Croatian Parliament in June recognised the Holodomor as

genocide of the Ukrainian people and went on to list the numerous actions Croatia had

undertaken to support Ukraine on its way towards reconstruction and European

membership.

Ms Marietta KARAMANLI, French

Assemblée nationale,

admitted that military aid for

Ukraine raised the question of the whole nature of European defence. Some said it

served to consolidate the American defence industry, but she thought Europe needed to

look at this as something that actually supports some fundamental principles, not least in

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

the light of enlargement. Europe had been born out of a war, with the idea of ensuring

peace and the rule of law, so it really needed to do some serious thinking about its own

defence now.

Ms KOVÁCS highlighted the latest European Commission report recognised the

progress Serbia made in aligning with the EU common foreign and security policy.

Mr KAYATÜRK admitted that his country was hugely dependent on Russian trade,

especially in the field of natural gas and petroleum. Türkiye had however always been

against the occupation of Ukraine and of Crimea by Russia.

Mr Kreshnik ÇOLLAKU, Albanian

Kuvendi i Shqipërisë,

warned that Russians were

trying to destabilise the Western Balkans region in order to gain influence. When

Albania asked to accelerate the process of accession of the countries in the region, it was

not asking to avoid the fulfilment of the requirements. Becoming a member of the

European Union was no longer a matter of standards, it was a matter of security.

Mr KARAYEL highlighted the fact that Türkiye had been working very hard to support

Ukraine, facilitating high profile prisoner exchanges, launching and successfully

implementing the Black Sea initiative and hosting peace talks. He was supported in his

views by Ms DORA, who stressed that Türkiye did not see Europe's interests separately

from its own national interests in this ongoing crisis. She reminded everyone of the fact

that Türkiye, having deep rooted relations with the European Union and being the

second largest military force in NATO, was a versatile partner and an important actor in

the fields of trade, tourism and defence industry.

Mr AUKRUST announced that in February 2023, Norway had launched a 5-year

programme to support Ukraine, representing 7.5 billion euros in military support,

humanitarian aid and civil support for the rebuilding of the state.

Mr RICKETTS noticed that one of the consequences of Putin's war in Ukraine had been

to bring the UK and EU closer together on security affairs.

Ms Fjolla UJKANI, Kosovo

Kuvendi i Kosovës

drew parallels between Ukraine’s

current struggle and Kosovo's own journey towards peace and democracy. These painful

experiences had strengthened Kosovo’s resolve to contribute to a united, secure and

prosperous Europe, Ms UJKANI called to acknowledge the aspiration of countries like

Kosovo, sharing a similar journey towards peace, democracy and European integration.

Mr Ondřej BENEŠÍK, Czech

Poslanecká sněmovna,

stressed the efforts the Czech

Republic had made with regards to Ukrainian war refugees, mentioning this obviously

had consequences for the educational system, healthcare, social system, housing, etc. He

also drew the attention to the

kidnapping of Ukrainian children by the Russian

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 - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Federation

and their forced “russification”, a phenomenon on which the Czech

Chamber of Deputies had adopted a resolution.

Mr Zdenko COSIC, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Parlamentarna skupština,

thanked

everyone who advocated for the accession of his country to the EU: joining the Union

would mean having a security framework for all the countries of the Western Balkans.

Ms RÕIVAS emphasised that talking about a ceasefire would not bring the Ukrainians

back their territory. She also pleaded for accession talks to start as soon as possible,

preferably before Christmas this year.

Mr Arber ADEMI, North Macedonian

Sobranie,

noticed that the European Union had

rediscovered the art of transforming a crisis into an opportunity for integration: leaving

Ukraine between Russia and the European Union was unthinkable and Ukraine would

eventually be a part of the EU. However, the EU was only complete with North

Macedonia and the other Western Balkan countries, as well as with Ukraine, Moldova

and Georgia.

Ms BOTCHORISHVILI reminded her colleagues that what they saw in Ukraine was a

continuation of Russia's aggressive policy that had been used in Georgia for more than

thirty years. Georgia still continued to face Russian occupation. Questions could be

asked if today would be different if the EU and NATO would have acted differently in

the past. We could not change the past, but we could act today to change our future. Ms

BOTCHORISHVIL expressed her hope that the EU Council decision in December will

lay ground for a real implementation of Georgia’s sovereign choice and a real

enlargement policy of the European Union.

Mr LÖFSTRÖM made the case for a swift Swedish integration in NATO, which would

only increase security in northern Europe.

The session was concluded with a short intervention by all three keynote speakers.

Mr MARTÍNEZ NUÑEZ expressed his gratitude for the debate and for having been able

to listen to the positions expressed by parliamentarians from so many different

countries. He agreed with the general remarks that were made and reminded everyone of

the fact that Europe was not a fortress: it was open, and it had been built by rounds of

accession. Europe was built on values, and bridges should be built around it to avoid

closing in on itself.

Mr TERZI DI SANT’AGATA concluded with two remarks. First, noting there was a

certain consensus between all Member States that enlargement was a fundamental

element to overcome the challenges that Europe would face in geopolitical terms, but

also in terms of defending its values and its identity. Second, highlighting how Finland

had proven, with the fast closing and effective monitoring of its borders, that fast and

integrated measures could be taken to counter the weaponisation of migration by Russia.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Ms KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE pointed out that peace talks were possible only with

those who had at least a shadow of respect towards international order, towards

promises or towards signed documents. Ukraine was a neutral and non-aligned state

when Russia attacked in 2014, meaning it had nothing to do with Ukraine’s European

or Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

With regard to European integration and the EU's enlargement, Ms

KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE expressed the hope that this historic decision would be

followed through upon by the European Council. Ukraine was working cross party to

really deliver on its responsibilities and on the conditions it received. It was not an easy

job, but Ukrainians were very focused on becoming, step by step, a strong, prosperous

and dynamic country inside the European Union. Ukrainians knew that the EU would

become much stronger, much more appealing and much more prosperous with their

country being part of it.

8. S

ESSION

V. O

PEN

TRATEGIC

UTONOMY

MERICA

AND RELATIONS WITH

ATIN

Mr José Ignacio LANDALUCE CALLEJA, Member of the Spanish

Senado,

opened the

session by welcoming the speakers.

Address by Mr Juan FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO, Spanish Secretary of State for

Ibero-America and the Caribbean and for Spanish around the World

Mr Juan FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO began his address by introducing the concept of Open

Strategic Autonomy, adopted by the European Council in October 2020, and which was

one of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. In fostering

Open Strategic Autonomy, the European Union must redouble its efforts to strengthen

multilateralism and establish political and trade relations with regions such as Latin

America and the Caribbean (LAC). Fostering relations with this region had been a

priority for Spain on the previous occasions in which it held the Presidency, and there

was a feeling that relations between the EU and LAC had not been sufficiently attended

to in recent years, he stated.

Mr FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO provided various statistics to highlight the importance of the

LAC region. He noted that the EU was the largest foreign investor in the region, with a

total investment stock of almost EUR 700 billion. Europe was LAC’s third largest

trading partner and bioregional trade has grown by 40% between 2018 and 2022,

reaching 369 billion euros. The EU was the largest development aid donor in LAC,

providing the region with around 4 billion euros in Official Development Aid per year.

Latin America had also a large potential for production of renewable energy, and had

large reserves of natural resources. It held 66% of the world’s lithium reserves, a critical

material, which the EU imported almost exclusively from China. The region was also

home to 60% of the global biodiversity, 50% of primary forests, 14% of global food

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

production and 20% of the world’s agricultural land. The region, he stressed, also shared

important EU values, such as the commitment to democratic development. Mr

FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO also emphasised the important human links between the EU and

the LAC region, with 6 million European citizens living in Latin America and 8 million

Latin American citizens in the EU. He also noted that 13.000 professional and student

exchanges had taken place in the past eight years through mobility programmes such as

Erasmus +.

Despite these important links other actors, such as Russia, were making inroads in the

region and competing with the EU. Mr FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO acknowledged that Latin

America’s position on Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine was a complex and

somewhat ambivalent one. Countries had condemned the invasion but this had not been

an active condemnation: no sanctions against Russia had been adopted by the region,

nor had Latin American countries delivered weapons to Ukraine. The subject of Ukraine

was, he noted, one of the most difficult ones during the recent European Union -

Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) Summit, held in

Brussels in July 2023, particularly due to the position of Nicaragua - the only country

that did not support the common declaration adopted.

Mr FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO noted that China also had a growing presence in Latin

America and was deepening its relations with countries in the region. That was visible,

for example, in growing trade relations - China offered rapid conclusion of trade

agreements - increasing Chinese investments in South America, high-level visits, the

use of “vaccine diplomacy” during the COVID-19 pandemic and diplomatic efforts to

isolate Taiwan in LAC. As a result, a certain re-orientation of diplomatic activity

towards the Pacific by Latin American countries was visible. This, he highlighted, had

led to a “geopolitical awakening” of EU’s interest in Latin America in 2023, with

various high-level visits and, notably, the EU-CELAC Summit, attended by 48 Heads of

State and Government, and the first one organised since 2015. The summit, he noted,

could be considered a success: a political declaration was agreed, including the

institutionalisation of political dialogue through future biennial EU-CELAC summits -

the next one scheduled to take place in Colombia in 2025. The establishment of

permanent coordination mechanisms, a EU-CELAC 2023-2025 roadmap detailing a

series of ministerial meetings to take place in the near future were also agreed.

Mr FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO highlighted the importance of deepening economic and trade

relations with the LAC region in order to reduce the EU’s dependence and to diversify

the sources of energy and raw materials. In particular, he noted the political push given

during the summit to the modernised agreements with Mexico and Chile - the latter one

being ready for signature. Intense work was also taking place to advance the agreement

with Mercosur. He also noted that the post-Cotonou agreement between the EU and the

Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) was unblocked and

signed during the Spanish Presidency. Among other priorities Mr FERNÁNDEZ

TRIGO highlighted the need to promote the ratification of the EU-Central America

agreement: the concrete proposal for investments contained in the EU Global Gateway

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

strategy, which would dedicate 45 billion euros in investments to Latin America and the

Caribbean - with Spain contributing 9 billion euros of the total; the adoption of the first

EU-Latin America Digital Agenda: as well as the signature of Memorandums of

Understanding (MoU) on energy matters signed between the EU and Argentina and

Uruguay, and the MoU on global value chains and critical raw materials signed between

the EU and Chile.

In conclusion Mr FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO listed some of the challenges ahead and

highlighted the need for the EU to work with Latin America not only at the continental

level, but also sub-regionally - establishing work programmes with the Central

American Integration System (SICA), the Pacific Alliance, Mercosur and the Caribbean

Community (CARICOM) - as well as bilaterally, with summits with strategic partners

such as Brazil or Mexico, and extending political dialogues with all other countries.

Agreements to expand political consultations were signed with Ecuador, Salvador and

Honduras in the margins of the EU-CELAC Summit, he noted. All of this, Mr

FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO stated, highlighted the renewed interest in reinforcing EU

relations with Latin America, which can contribute to promoting the EU’s Open

Strategic Autonomy. This, he stressed, was a task which did not end with the Spanish

Presidency but was a long-term endeavour to which the EU needed to continue devoting

important efforts.

Address by Mr Carlos MALAMUD RIKLES, Senior Analyst at the Real Instituto

Elcano

Mr MALAMUD RIKLES stressed the central place which the Latin American region

occupied in the priorities of the Spanish Presidency, as was the case in the previous

Presidencies held by the country. He emphasised that, in the current political situation,

Latin America should remain an important topic in the EU’s foreign relations agenda,

due to various factors, notably the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and of

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While the war against Ukraine had underlined the

capacity of the EU to react united against Putin’s aggression and destabilising efforts, it

had also highlighted the distance which separated Europe from the “Global South”. The

quest for Europe’s Strategic Autonomy thus required a renewal of the continent’s

alliances. It was in this process that Latin America - a region described by Mr José

Manuel ALBARES BUENO, Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, as the most

“Euro-compatible” region - could play a pivotal role. Latin America was however also a

diverse and fragmented region, and there was a growing presence of geopolitical actors

such as China or Russia, but also other countries such as Iran, Türkiye or India. He

highlighted the main success of the Spanish Presidency: the organisation of the

EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels, the first since 2015 and which opened the possibility

for reinforcing relations between the two continents. He underlined that the EU should

combine bilateral relations with Latin American countries and continent-to-continent

relations through CELAC.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Mr MALAMUD RIKLES underlined the importance of Latin America for the global

economy, as a continent with numerous resources that would be key for the green

transition, such as lithium, as well as a large potential to generate renewable energy, and

important biodiversity and freshwater reserves. The growing interest in Latin America

had led the Real Instituto Elcano to publish its report

“Por qué importa América

Latina?” (Why does Latin America matter?)

coinciding with the Spanish Presidency of

the Council of the EU. Mr MALAMUD RIKKES stressed that Latin America was the

only region in the world that was pursuing its economic development through

democracy and respect for human rights, and not through authoritarian governments. He

also alluded to the region’s commitment to democratic economic development as a

distinguishing feature that should be emphasised in global discussions. While China’s

presence in the continent had increased substantially in the past two decades, he noted,

there were still numerous areas in which the EU continues to be the main external actor

in the region. He further stressed that the EU should have a presence in Latin America

for its own interests and not to balance or compete with China.

Mr MALAMUD RIKKES then discussed two concrete elements addressed in the Real

Instituto Elcano report. Firstly, the proposal for the creation of an EU-LAC Trade and

Technology Council to steer continental relations and find common answers to common

challenges. This would be similar to the ones which the EU has established with the

United States or India, and would cover discussions on topics such as energy and food

security, health, digital governance, global value chains, renewable energy, migration or

the fight against transnational organised crime.

The second topic highlighted by Mr MALAMUD RIKKES, and through which the EU

could send a clear signal of the importance of revitalised EU-LAC relations, would be

the conclusion of the EU-Mercosur agreement. This agreement would be an important

boost for Latin America’s economic prospects, and would allow the EU to position itself

as the dominant economic actor in Latin America, he said. If the Mercosur agreement

was concluded, the EU would have free trade agreements with countries representing

94% of Latin America’s GDP (compared with 34% for the United States and 14% for

China). He noted that the Mercosur agreement would deepen not only integration

between the EU and Mercosur, but also regional integration in Latin America, as it

would interconnect various existing trade agreements in the continent, and harmonise

different regulatory frameworks related to digital processes, or customs procedures. Mr

MALAMUD RIKKES underlined that the EU-Mercosur agreement could result in a

free trade area covering one billion people, and would lead to 70% increase in trade

between the EU and LAC, and 40% increase in intra-regional trade in Latin America.

This agreement would have mutually beneficial impacts as the economies of Latin

America and the EU are complementary: the former could contribute natural,

agricultural and energy resources, while the latter would provide capital and

technologies.

Available at:

https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/informes/informe-elcano-32-por-que-importa-america-latina/

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Mr MALAMUD RIKKES concluded by noting that, should the Mercosur agreement not

be agreed under the current Spanish Presidency, it may be more difficult to do so under

successive Presidencies of the Council of the EU. This failure to close the agreement

would be a strategic mistake and would not only potentially endanger regional

integration in Mercosur, but also send a negative signal to other potential trade partners

with whom the EU is currently negotiating trade agreements.

During the ensuing debate, 18 speakers took the floor.

All speakers emphasised the importance of

strengthening the European Union’s Open

Strategic Autonomy

to confront the numerous geopolitical challenges it was currently

facing and the vulnerabilities revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and by Russia’s

illegal invasion of Ukraine. Along others, Mr Kristian VIGENIN, Bulgarian

Narodno

sabranie

and Mr Jonas JARUTIS, Lithuanian

Seimas

all emphasised the

strategic

importance of the European Union’s relations with Latin America and the

Caribbean

in supporting the goal of Strategic Autonomy, and also welcomed the

revitalised agenda and upgraded policy framework of EU-CELAC relations.

Mr Anton HOFREITER, German

Bundestag,

Mr Didier MARIE, French

Sénat,

Mr Luis

Jesús URIBE-ETXEBARRIA APALATEGUI, Spanish

Cortes Generales

and Ms Cinzia

PELLEGRINO, Italian

Senato della Repubblica

all stressed that Open Strategic

Autonomy is crucial for the

EU to be an active geopolitical actor amidst the growing

competition,

particularly between the US and China. The speakers also emphasised that

Strategic Autonomy could help

reduce Europe’s dependence on countries such as

Russia and China.

Strengthening

trade relations with Latin America and the

Caribbean

was thus essential to diversify the European Union’s supply of energy

sources and of critical raw materials, as underlined by Mr Alessandro GIGLIO VIGNA,

Italian

Camera dei Deputati,

Mr HOFREITER and Mr MARIE. The potential benefits

of deepening these trade relations were further boosted by the complementarity between

the European and Latin American economies, noted Mr URIBE-ETXEBARRIA

APALATEGUI.

The Open Strategic Autonomy goals of fostering open trade relations,

diversifying the

origin of key resources

and

reducing the European Union’s dependence

unreliable external suppliers should all contribute to strengthen the

resilience

and

competitiveness of the European economy, as well as promoting its

reindustrialisation,

as underlined by Mr Gaëtan VAN GOIDSENHOVEN, Belgian

Sénat/Senaat,

Bastiaan VAN APELDOORN, Dutch

Eerste Kamer

and Mr Ján FERENČÁK, Slovak

Národná rada.

Other speakers also noted other key sectors that need to be made more

resilient in the quest for European Open Strategic Autonomy. Thus, Mr GIGLIO

VIGNA underlined the need to build

cyber resilience,

while Ms Latifa GAHOUCHI,

Belgian

Sénat/Senaat

stressed the need for the EU to protect its citizens in a challenging

global context and noted,

inter alia

that the

EU’s health and food systems needed to

be resilient to future shocks

as well as sustainable. Mr VIGENIN noted the importance

of strengthening the European Union’s single market and reindustrialisation and further

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

noted that Russia’s war or aggression against Ukraine had made clear the need to also

reinforce the EU’s

defence capabilities,

including boosting its military production base

and developing joint capabilities.

Various members, including Ms PELLEGRINO, Mr Ruairí Ó MURCHÚ, Irish

Houses

of the Oireachtas: Dáil Eireann

and Mr Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA, European

Parliament called on the European Union to establish fair and balanced trade relations

with Latin America, not predatory ones. The

EU-Mercosur trade agreement

was

mentioned by various speakers. Ms PELLEGRINO called for the Mercosur agreement

to be concluded as soon as possible, also to counteract China’s growing influence in the

region. Various other speakers expressed, however, their

reservations

towards the

conclusion of this agreement. Mr VAN APELDOORN noted the important concerns that

existed in the Dutch Parliament regarding this agreement, notably on the need to ensure

that concluding this agreement did not result in unfair competition for European

producers, nor dilute agricultural standards in the Union. He also expressed concerns

regarding the impact of the agreement in food security and Amazon forest. Because of

this, he noted, the Dutch parliament was opposed to concluding this agreement, which

would not contribute to Strategic Autonomy but rather create new vulnerabilities for

European farmers and citizens.

Mr MARIE acknowledged the geopolitical importance of the Mercosur agreement but

also noted that the European Union should not make excessive concessions in the name

of reaching an agreement quickly. He called for negotiating a balanced agreement, with

ambitious social and environmental standards, and to prevent unfair competition,

particularly regarding agriculture but also in relation to public procurement. Mr MARIE

also underlined that the political and trade agreement with Mercosur should be ratified

by the national Parliaments of all EU Member States as a democratic guarantee. Mr José

María SÁNCHEZ, Spanish

Cortes Generales,

noted that his political group was not

positive on the Mercosur agreement as they considered that it was necessary to give

preference to European goods in order to protect Spanish agricultural producers. Mr

Bruno NUNES, Portuguese

Assembleia da República

noted that concluding the

Mercosur agreement could have a negative impact for European companies by lowering

social and economic standards.

Mr URIBE-ETXEBARRIA APALATEGUI stressed that it was important for the

EU to

define its geopolitical role

by promoting its values, whereas Ms GAHOUCHI

emphasised the importance of European unity, strength and freedom in pursuing

Strategic Autonomy. Ms PELLEGRINO, Mr FERENČÁK and Mr Magnus

BERNTSSON, Swedish

Riksdag

also highlighted the need to work with like-minded

allies in favour of stronger, rules-based, multilateralism.

For their part, Mr SÁNCHEZ and Mr BUXADÉ VILLALBA warned about the

authoritarian character and the negative influence for democracy

in the region of

countries such as Cuba, Venezuela or Nicaragua, as well as the current Brazilian and

Colombian presidents. Mr NUNES also noted the authoritarian character of some of the

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

countries in Latin America, and further noted the support for Russia’s position in the

invasion of Ukraine held by some Latin American countries. Beyond economic

relations, Mr BUXADÉ VILLALBA highlighted the need to bring historic links

between the European Union and Latin America to the fore, whereas Mr GIGLIO

VIGNA noted the important human connections given the large number of Italian

migrants and their descendants, particularly in South America.

Mr FERENČÁK noted that advancing the European Union’s

enlargement process

was

also an important element that could contribute to the promotion of Open Strategic

Autonomy. This point was noted by İsmail Emrah KARAYEL, Türkiye

Büyük Millet

Meclisi,

while he also regretted that Türkiye was not being considered in current

discussions around the enlargement process. Mr BERNTSSON and Mr JARUTIS called

for continued support for Ukraine to defend the multilateral order and to reduce

Ukraine’s dependency on Russia. Mr JARUTIS further noted the need to be aware that

some LAC partners were supporting Russian arguments in calling for a ceasefire in

Ukraine and stressed the need to resist disinformation.

Burhan KAYATÜRK, Türkiye

Büyük Millet Meclisi

noted the deepening political

relations between Türkiye and Latin America, a region which had a growing presence in

the global stage. These extensive relations meant that closer relations between the

European Union and Türkiye could have a multiplier effect in developing the EU’s goal

of Strategic Autonomy.

In his replies, Mr FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO welcomed the different interventions, all of

which, he noted, had made clear the importance of advancing the European Union’s

Open Strategic Autonomy, and the key role which Latin America could play in this. It

was essential to establish links with partners that shared the EU’s interests and

aspirations, and that was the case in Latin American countries that believed in the

democratic process but also wanted strong institutions, the rule of law and a vibrant civil

society. The region, Mr FERNÁNDEZ TRIGO also highlighted, had important

aspirations in terms of economic development and prosperity. This required establishing

fair economic and trade relations, and not only seeing the continent as a source of raw

materials. Economic cooperation between the EU and Latin America needed to promote

decent, formal working conditions, reinforcing health systems - in a continent that was

severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, he stated. It was important for the EU to

use not only development aid, but also investment and trade in order to support Latin

American countries, so that their populations could aspire to a better living standard in

their countries and not be forced to emigrate.

In his replies, Mr MALAMUD RIKLES began by addressing the interventions made in

reference to the Mercosur trade agreement, and noted that these showed certain

protectionist tendencies towards an agreement that has been under negotiation for the

past 20 years. He acknowledged that such reticence to the trade agreement was also

present in Latin America. In his opinion, some of the European opposition to the

agreement with Mercosur was based on a number of misunderstandings. For example,

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

he noted that cereal production in Mercosur was very efficient due to the use of

technologies; this means that competition from these producers should be seen as fair

competition. When it came to the environment, Mr MALAMUD RIKLES noted that the

largest causes of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest were illegal mining and illegal

logging, not the extension of agricultural land. In his view, the key question for the

Mercosur trade agreement, which he considered had been repeatedly undermined by

protectionist interest, was what would be the cost, not of concluding the agreement, but

of not concluding it. With regards to China, Mr MALAMUD RIKLES noted that this

country had an important commercial presence in South America, but it did not have the

same weight in other critical areas such as investments, finance, military relations, or

tourism and human exchanges.

Mr MALAMUD RIKLES concluded by stating that Latin America and the Caribbean

should not be seen as a continent to exploit, but a continent with which the European

Union had had deep historical relations. Lastly, he noted that Latin America was not

Europe, but its own continent, and what, while being very “Euro-compatible” as he had

noted in his introductory address, Latin American countries had gained their

independence from Spain and Portugal in the nineteenth century.

Mr LANDALUCE CALLEJA thanked all participants and closed the session.

9. C

LOSING SESSION

THE

LXX COSAC

ADOPTION OF THE

ONTRIBUTION

AND

ONCLUSIONS

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN alluded to the texts of the Contribution and Conclusions of

the LXX COSAC Meeting, as discussed and endorsed by the Chairpersons the evening

before, which were distributed to all delegations beforehand and were adopted by

consensus with no amendment presented during the Plenary.

She then informed all delegations that, according to Article 9.3 of COSAC Rules of

Procedure, the Chairpersons had appointed, upon recommendation from the Presidential

Troika, Mr Jakob SJÖVALL from the Swedish

Riksdag,

as Permanent Member of the

COSAC Secretariat for the period 2024-2025. The Chair wished him success in his new

role.

The Chair also expressed her gratitude to Mr Bruno DIAS PINHEIRO, from the

Portuguese

Assembleia da República,

the outgoing Permanent Member, for his work in

the COSAC Secretariat during the 2022-23 term.

The Chair gave the floor to Ms Eliane TILLIEUX, Co-Chair of the Federal Advisory

Committee on European affairs, Belgian

Chambre des représentants/Kamer van

Volksvertegenwoordigers/Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers,

and Mr Gaëtan VAN

GOIDSENHOVEN, Co-Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee on European Affairs,

Belgian

Sénat/Senaat,

as incoming Presidency of COSAC in the first semester of 2024

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Ms TILLIEUX started by thanking the Spanish Presidency for an excellent and

interesting meeting. She then alluded to the parliamentary dimension of the coming

Belgian Presidency, informing that the first event would be the meeting of the COSAC

Chairpersons on 14 and 15 January 2024, which would take place in her home town of

Namur. She added that, like Spain, Belgium would also be organising a number of

interparliamentary conferences in cities other than the capital, aiming to introduce

delegations to the beautiful cities of Belgium, but also to bring Europe closer to its

citizens.

Furthermore, she informed that the themes of the meeting of COSAC Chairpersons

would be the priorities of the Belgian Presidency, the European pillar of social rights

and the future of the EU after the European elections of 2024, namely in the context of

future enlargements and how could the EU work effectively if new countries would join

by the end of the decade.

Mr VAN GOIDSENHOVEN also thanked the Presidency for a very interesting COSAC

meeting and informed delegations that the LXXI COSAC would take place from 24 to

26 March 2024 in Brussels. He acknowledged that this meeting would take place

halfway through the Belgian Presidency, but the fact that the European elections and

federal and regional elections in Belgium will take place on the same day, has forced the

Belgian Parliament to schedule all interparliamentary meetings to the first half of the

Presidency’s semester.

He further noted that for the first time in its history, the COSAC Plenary would be

taking place in the buildings of the European Parliament, thanking its President, Ms

Roberta METSOLA for the cooperation.

Regarding the topics to be addressed during the Plenary meeting, and given that the

Belgian Presidency comes at the end of the European legislature, the first session would

take stock of this term of office and the prospects offered by the Council's new strategic

agenda. Secondly, the issue of gender policy and the representation of women in

Parliaments would also be addressed. The third session will be devoted to Open

Strategic Autonomy, with a particular focus on competitiveness and resilience. Finally,

the last topic to be covered would be the future of democracy and the place of the rule of

law.

Mr VAN GOIDSENHOVEN noted that the Belgian Parliament was looking forward to

welcoming delegation to the meetings of the parliamentary dimension of the Belgian

Presidency.

Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN took the floor to emphasise the liveliness of the debates and

exchanges held during the LXX COSAC, highlighting the key role played by

parliamentarians across the EU, as the ones who are closer to citizens, in building and

shaping European democracy.

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

She then referred to the good cooperation with different Parliaments in preparing for the

Spanish Presidency, expressing her pride for the work done in the current semester. The

Chair further noted the challenging times that Europe and the world were going through,

underlining the unwavering support shown to Ukraine. Finally, she mentioned the many

tasks ahead for the EU, highlighting that union and cooperation amongst Parliaments

was crucial to face them. Ms SUMELZO JORDÁN also extended her gratitude to the

staff who assisted in the organisation of the LXX COSAC.

The final intervention of the meeting was given by Ms Francina ARMENGOL

SOCÍAS, Speaker of the Spanish

Congreso de los Diputados,

who started by referring

the five thematic sessions held at the LXX COSAC and noting that they corresponded to

several of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU and of the

work programme of the European Commission for 2024. She also alluded to the fact

that conflict in the Middle East was also debated at the LXX COSAC, given its key

relevance, even though it was not initially envisaged.

She thanked all the Parliaments for the debates and exchanges on these issues, calling

for their continued efforts to find the necessary compromises to tackle the common

challenges. With that regard, she recalled the Global Conference on strengthening

Parliaments to enhance democracy

, held in León from 30 June to 1 July 2023, which

set the objective of adopting a Charter on Modern Parliamentarism for an effective

democracy, following an initiative of the First Vice-President of the European

Parliament, Mr Othmar KARAS. Ms ARMENGOL SOCÍAS then mentioned that this

Charter should be adopted during the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments

(EUSC), due to be held in Palma de Mallorca on 21 April 2024.

She further noted that the debates on the issue of Open Strategic Autonomy were to be

continued, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine which posed the biggest

challenge to European security since the Cold War. In her view, this had exposed some

challenges but also brought unity and the strengthening of NATO, with the accession

negotiations of Finland and Sweden. Moreover, discussions on the progress of the

reform of the EU’s economic governance were also foreseen, in the framework of the

green and digital transitions and to face new priorities, namely in terms of defence

spending. Other issues, like institutional reform, the challenges brought by artificial

intelligence, the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and gender

equality were also to be discussed. For that reason, Ms ARMENGOL SOCÍAS

announced that on the eve of the EUSC, a summit of women Speakers of Parliaments

would be held.

Furthermore, she alluded to the ongoing discussions on the Pact on Migration and

Asylum and on the conflict in the Middle East due to be held when the Spanish

Cortes

Generales

would take over the Presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union

for the Mediterranean, from 2024 to May 2025.

Available at

https://parleu2023.es/en/eventos/global-conference-on-strenghtening-parliaments-to-enhance-democracy/

EUU, Alm.del - 2023-24 - Bilag 187: Referat fra COSAC-møde og Trojka-møde 26-28/11-23 i Madrid

Finally, she expressed wishes of success for the incoming parliamentary dimension of

the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU. She recalled that the Spanish

Presidency would be the last full Presidency of the current legislative term and that the

Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments would take place a few weeks ahead of the

elections for the European Parliament. She thanked all the contributions received so far

and also further inputs in the coming months, which would allow the Spanish

Presidency to prepare a few common conclusions to be addressed to the Council ahead

of the next institutional cycle on behalf of national Parliaments.