EUU, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 75: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet i Budapest 27-29/10-24

Europaudvalget 2024-25
EUU Alm.del Bilag 75
Offentligt

Plenary Meeting of the LXXII COSAC

Budapest, 27-29 October 2024

CONTRIBUTION OF THE LXXII COSAC

The state of the European Union in the year of institutional transition and

the 15-year application of the Treaty of Lisbon

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COSAC recognises that in the previous institutional cycle Europe was mostly

dominated by multiple crises and crisis responses and consequently, EU Member

States and their citizens faced with significant number of emergencies.

COSAC welcomes the decisions of the European Council of 27 June 2024 on the

election of the President of the European Council as well as on the nominations

of the President of the European Commission and High Representative of the

Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. In this respect, COSAC expresses

its hope that the new European Commission will take office by 1 December 2024.

COSAC also welcomes the EU headline goals as set out in the Strategic Agenda

2024-2029, promoting a Europe that is free and democratic, strong and secure,

prosperous and competitive.

COSAC commemorates the human and material losses of the recent devastating

floods in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the series of wildfires in Southern

Europe and expresses its solidarity with the victims, their families and the people

and communities affected by the severe flooding and wildfires in the respective

countries.

COSAC underlines that these natural disasters also highlight the need to

strengthen the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters. In this respect, COSAC

recognises that cooperation between EU countries' crisis centres is essential to

deal with a multitude of potential risks and crises.

COSAC notes that the green transition is a necessary step in reducing the EU’s

energy dependency and tackling climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

COSAC recognises that, to step up this green transition, the Green Deal needs an

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economic and financial base, that ensures sustainable growth and that supports

citizens and companies, notably, SMEs, farmers and fishers.

COSAC appreciates that over the past years, the EU has managed to withstand

critical risks to its security of energy supply, regain control over the energy

market, and accelerate the transition towards climate neutrality. COSAC points

out that affordability of energy for households and industries is critical to

ensuring social security and European competitiveness and stresses the

importance of encouraging low-carbon energy mixes that can contribute to this,

while respecting technological neutrality.

COSAC points out that the Single Market is one of the EU’s greatest

achievements, as it facilitates cross-border trade, stimulates growth and boosts

innovation, while making citizens’ lives much easier. Today, more than thirty

years after its inception, the Single Market continues to be a cornerstone and

asset of European integration, serving as a powerful catalyst for growth and

competitiveness. However, the international environment has profoundly

changed, thus highlighting the need to further develop the Single Market in the

less integrated policy areas.

COSAC recognises the importance of Enrico Letta's report on the future of the

European single market and calls for collective reflections.

COSAC stresses the need for the removal of remaining barriers, particularly in

relation to services and essential goods, and calls for equal access to the Single

Market through improved connectivity as well as for a balanced and effective state

aid and competition framework. COSAC also calls on European institutions to

strengthen the European capital market union.

COSAC calls for a renewed and ambitious industrial policy, anchoring and

protecting the industrial base of the European prosperity. COSAC emphasizes the

need for improving European competitiveness, integrating this objective into all

policies, by applying a holistic approach. The adoption of a New European

Competitiveness Deal is a key priority in order to restore economic development

and create the conditions for sustainable growth, deepen the Single Market, focus

on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. COSAC looks forward to

swift and decisive progress on the New European Competitiveness Deal by the

end of this year.

COSAC recognises the importance of Mario Draghi’s report on the future of

European competitiveness and calls for collective reflections.

COSAC welcomes the fact that more than hundred organisations recently signed

the artificial intelligence (AI) Pact, which is a voluntary commitment that paves

the way for compliance with the AI Act and which starts applying the principles

of the AI Act ahead of its date of application.

COSAC highlights that since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the role

of national Parliaments has been enhanced within the European constitutional

framework, and they have proved to be active players in

ex ante

scrutinising EU

policies and influencing EU draft legislations by using the means of political

dialogue and subsidiarity checks under Protocols No. 1 and No. 2 of the Treaty of

Lisbon. The constructive engagements of national Parliaments in shaping the

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content of EU policies should be further enhanced in the future by full exercise of

their European functions, including the working on the green card initiative.

COSAC calls for enhanced access to Council documents to enable national

Parliaments to fulfil their oversight role.

COSAC invites the members of the new European Commission to participate

regularly in COSAC meetings.

COSAC regrets that strengthening the role of national parliaments is not one of

the new European Commission's strategic priorities, even though this would help

to address the European Union's democratic deficit and bring the European

Union closer to its citizens.

COSAC calls for dialogue and exchanges between the European Commission and

the national Parliaments to be stepped up in particular when the European

Commission is drawing up its strategic priorities and annual work programme,

so that the expectations of the national parliaments can be taken into account in

the EU's major policy guidelines.

COSAC considers it desirable to strengthen the scrutiny of the principle of

subsidiarity by national parliaments, in particular by extending from eight to ten

weeks the deadline granted to national parliaments and by lowering the threshold

for triggering the ‘yellow card’ to one quarter of the votes cast.

European security and defence

(20) Due to raising security and challenges, including hybrid and cybersecurity

threats, COSAC reiterates the need for decisive EU action in security and defence

area, working autonomously when and where necessary and with reliable

partners. COSAC stresses the need for enhancing EU capacity to better anticipate,

prevent and prepare for crisis. In this process, the security and defence interests

of all EU Member States should be fully taken into account.

(21) Recalling Member States' competences in the field of defence, COSAC calls for a

smooth work and timely adoption of the Regulation on the European Parliament

and the Council on European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) in order to

strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base. It also

reiterates the importance of ongoing work on military defence lines at the EU

borders with Russia and Belarus.

(22) COSAC stresses the need for close coordination on EU’s security and defence

agenda with like-minded partners worldwide, notably with NATO and reliable

non-EU Allies.

Ukraine

(23) COSAC by reiterating its statements adopted at the previous COSAC meetings in

Madrid and Brussels, strongly and unequivocally condemns Russia's

unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal invasion of Ukraine, its war of aggression

against Ukraine and the occupation and annexation of the parts of Ukrainian

territory, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter.

EUU, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 75: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet i Budapest 27-29/10-24

(24) COSAC is extremely concerned about reports of executions by Russian forces of

Ukrainian prisoners of war. No crime can remain unpunished.

(25) COSAC recalls its full unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty, and

territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders as

well as strongly underlines Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence against

Russian aggression.

(26) COSAC reconfirms its enduring commitment to supporting the continued and

sufficient provision of political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and

diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as

intensely as needed. As far as military support is concerned, COSAC supports the

idea of continuing military assistance through bilateral channels and the

European Peace Facility. This does not prejudice the specific character of the

security and defence policy of certain Member States.

(27) COSAC calls for the EU and its Member States to work actively towards

maintaining and achieving global coordination and the widest possible

international support for Ukraine and to achieve a comprehensive, sustainable,

just and lasting peace based on the Ukraine’s Peace Formula and principles of the

United Nations Charter. COSAC appreciates the convocation and results of the

Summit on Peace in Ukraine held on 15 and 16 June 2024 in Switzerland. COSAC

calls for comprehensive accountability of Russia and its leadership for waging a

war of aggression against Ukraine and other most serious crimes under

international law.

(28) COSAC stresses the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine among the

Member States of the European Union and reaffirms the importance of not acting

in a way that undermines this support.

(29) COSAC calls on the EU and its Member States to continue work on further

sanctions on Russia as a response to the ongoing aggression.

(30) COSAC strongly condemns third countries’ continued support for Russia’s war of

aggression and urges them to cease all assistance.

(31) COSAC welcomes the global and European donors in the field of support for the

reconstruction of Ukraine and looks forward to the implementation of the

Ukraine Facility, of the granting of exceptional macro-financial assistance (MFA)

loan of up to EUR 35 billion and of a new loan mechanism implementing G7

commitment. COSAC reiterates its appreciation and support for European and

international efforts to restore, recover and rebuild Ukraine. It calls on the EU

institutions and Member States to accelerate efforts to use revenues of the frozen

Russian assets to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.

(32) COSAC in particular condemns the persistent shelling by Russia of Ukraine’s

critical energy and civilian infrastructure. COSAC supports all efforts to urgently

increase Ukraine’s energy security before the winter and address the immediate

humanitarian and civil protection needs.

(33) COSAC reaffirms the importance of always ensuring the protection of all civilians

and to address the consequence of the war on refugees and displaced persons.

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Middle East

(34) COSAC condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack by Hamas

on 7 October 2023 and stresses that the further escalation of the conflict into a

regional war must be avoided by any means.

(35) COSAC insists on Israel´s right to exist and its inherent right of self-defence in

accordance with international law.

(36) COSAC calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, for the release of all

hostages and for the increase in the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance

through the Gaza Strip.

(37) COSAC is deeply concerned by the high number of civil casualties and the

imminent risk of famine and infectious diseases in the Gaza Strip and calls on all

parties to respect the provisions of international humanitarian law.

(38) COSAC is very concerned about the latest developments in the Middle East, the

ongoing conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah and urges all parties to refrain

from any further escalation. Support from reliable partners must be strengthened

in the region and work must be done to counter destabilising actors. COSAC

condemns the attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

(UNIFIL), which are grave violation of international law.

(39) COSAC condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian attacks on Israel on 1

October 2024 and Iran’s seriously destabilising actions throughout the Middle

East through terrorist and armed groups.

(40) COSAC calls for political and direct dialogue among the parties concerned to

reach lasting peaceful solutions and to ensure the protection of civilian lives.

(41) COSAC welcomes the approval of the Council declaration of 15 October 2024 on

fostering Jewish life and combating antisemitism. COSAC reiterates its serious

concerns about recent alarming incidents and condemns in the strongest possible

terms all forms of discrimination, including antisemitism and anti-Muslim

hatred, intolerance, racism and xenophobia.

Migration

(42) COSAC stresses that the constant migratory pressure on Europe places different

burden on individual Member States and that addressing these challenges,

including the effective external border protection should be a common European

objective. COSAC reaffirms the need to prevent and counter illegal migration.

(43) COSAC calls for the removal of reintroduced temporary internal border controls

within the Schengen Area.

(44) COSAC urges decisive actions to enhance, expedite and increase the returns of

illegal migrants and the enforcement of measures against the lucrative networks

of human smuggling and trafficking of smugglers. COSAC insists on additional

steps to prevent people from embarking on dangerous journeys or falling victim

to migrant smuggling or trafficking.

(45) COSAC calls for closer cooperation with third countries bordering the EU as well

as with the key countries of origin and transit to address the root causes of

EUU, Alm.del - 2024-25 - Bilag 75: Referat, bidrag og konklusioner fra COSAC-mødet i Budapest 27-29/10-24

migration, including the conclusion of new partnership agreements and other

effective and innovative forms of cooperation.

(46) In this respect, COSAC recognises the significance of the EU’s comprehensive

partnership agreements reached with Tunisia, Egypt or Lebanon, as well as the

recent agreement concluded by the EU and Serbia on operational cooperation in

border management with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency

(Frontex) to strengthen border management cooperation.

(47) COSAC welcomes the European Council Conclusions of 17 October, stressing the

importance of implementing adopted EU legislation and application of existing

legislation, in order to best address the current challenges.

The enlargement of the European Union

(48) COSAC recalls the importance of the 20

anniversary of the 2004 EU

enlargement, which brought tangible benefits to citizens in terms of freedom,

opportunities and prosperity, including by creating the world’s largest integrated

market. The transformative effect and the benefits of EU enlargement on the lives

of Europeans is obvious and undeniable.

(49) COSAC underlines that enlargement - based on the experiences of the 2004/2007

and 2013 enlargements - is one of the most successful policies of the European

Union. To preserve this favourable tendency for the future rounds of

enlargement, it is essential to keep enlargement policy merit-based, balanced and

credible, in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria.

(50) COSAC notes that due to the geopolitical and security situation, fundamental

changes have occurred in the enlargement policy over the past three years and

expresses its conviction that the recently gained momentum around enlargement

will prevail and lead to the accession of further countries in the near future. EU

institutions made historic decisions in the past years and consequently, nine

candidate countries and one potential candidate country progress towards the

European Union. There is new dynamism in the enlargement process and both

the EU and aspiring countries have a responsibility to make the most of this

opportunity.

(51) COSAC shares the assessment of the European Council that both the European

Union and future Member States must be ready at the time of accession.

(52) COSAC expresses its support to all candidate and potential candidate countries

participating in the enlargement process and urges them to step up their reform

initiatives, especially in the field of rule of law, with the assistance of the

European Union, its Member States, the European Parliament and the national

Parliaments through bilateral cooperation and capacity-building activities. In

parallel, the necessary reforms must be perceived and conducted so that an

enlarged European Union can continue to work effectively for the benefit of

European citizens.

(53) COSAC reiterates its support for the Western Balkans in line with the

Thessaloniki Declaration adopted more than 20 years ago; it promotes the

accession process and welcomes the adopted Growth Plan for the Western

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Balkans. Economic convergence is an essential element in getting the Western

Balkan partners closer to the EU therefore, the Growth Plan should also

accelerate the reform processes in the respective countries.

COSAC appreciates as a milestone moment, that Montenegro has met the interim

benchmarks in rule of law chapters 23 and 24, as confirmed by the

intergovernmental conference in June, thus paving the way towards closing

further negotiating chapters in the coming months. This breakthrough in the

negotiations may serve as an incentive for all candidate countries.

COSAC welcomes that Albania became eligible for starting negotiations on

Cluster 1 on the Fundamentals by the fulfilment of its opening benchmarks.

COSAC welcomes the adoption of negotiating frameworks by the Council for the

accession negotiations of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova respectively as

well as the start of accession negotiations with these two countries on 25 June.

COSAC expresses its hope that the Cluster 1 on the Fundamentals will be open for

negotiations in the coming months after Ukraine and Moldova have met its

opening benchmarks.

COSAC commends the creation of the EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility as well as

the payment of the first instalment amounting to EUR 4 365 million after the

satisfactory fulfilment of the relevant conditions by Ukraine.

COSAC is of the opinion that the prospect of EU membership is an incentive for

Ukrainian authorities to implement key reforms that are necessary to consolidate

the rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy.

COSAC equally commends the announcement of a new Growth Plan for the

Republic of Moldova aimed at supporting the acceleration of EU-related reforms,

economic growth and accession negotiations.

COSAC is concerned by the preliminary findings of the election observation

missions in Georgia, which point to incidents distorting the independence of the

vote. The proper functioning of democracy, free elections and political pluralism

are conditions for accession to the European Union. Respecting these conditions

is essential if the Georgian people are to continue on their path towards

membership of the European Union.

European demographic trends and responses at national and European

level

(61) COSAC welcomes the European Commission’s Communication on Demographic

change in Europe: a toolbox for action as it rightly identifies the main challenges

in this field by respecting the national competence of the EU Member States and

the life choices of individuals.

(62) COSAC points out that demographic changes will affect Europe's future on a scale

like the green and digital transition as already evidenced by the regional and

territorial disparities and the different migration flows.

(63) COSAC considers that the ageing societies in Europe, rural depopulation and the

shrinking working-age population have a growing impact on the productivity and

competitiveness of EU economies, including public debt sustainability, labour

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and skills shortages, in addition to the sustainability an adequacy of social

protection systems.

COSAC stresses that demographic changes exercise wide-ranging effect on the

social, territorial and intergenerational cohesion of the EU, especially in less

densely populated, rural or remote regions. Therefore, the cohesion policy under

the next Multiannual Financial Framework should take into consideration the

challenges deriving from depopulated regions and outermost regions.

COSAC encourages intergenerational solidarity and cross-sectoral supportive

measures to strengthen individuals and families and it welcomes the proposed

portfolio in the new European Commission for intergenerational fairness. COSAC

considers that such forward-thinking governance is essential to ensure a

comprehensive life-cycle rights-based approach that empowers all generations to

realise their talents and aspirations.

COSAC invites all relevant stakeholders and policy makers to ensure the effective

implementation of the regulatory framework for life-work balance, for targeted

initiatives for the younger generation to be able to choose to start a family and for

the access to affordable housing and childcare services.

COSAC expresses its hope that the targeted measures can help to provide long-

term incentives for families, thereby paving the way for positive demographic

changes in Europe.