President of the Committee on European Integration Mr Slaven Radunović today has participated in the extraordinary meeting of the COSAC, which was organised via video-conference.
At the extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union within the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU, the topics included European response to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences for the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, as well as the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The COSAC Chair Mr Domagoj Ivan Milošević, Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament, pointed out the significance of COSAC as a forum for interparliamentary cooperation, emphasising that the current pandemic had shown that solidarity was a core value of the functioning of the European Union.
The Vice President of the European Commission for interinstitutional cooperation Mr Maroš Šefčovič pointed to the significance of adopting the EU recovery plan for mitigating the effects of coronavirus and its adequate implementation. First Vice President of the European Parliament Ms Mairead McGuinness said that the support of the national parliaments to the financial aid package was of great importance. It is 750 billion euros of aid, which will be available to member states, and in line with the seriousness of the situation, will be used for revitalising the economy, sustainable development, protection of business operations and securing jobs. The COSAC members agreed that strengthening EU’s cooperation with third countries was necessary, along with strengthening control border control. Speaking of coronavirus crisis prevention mechanisms, even though the people’s health remains EU’s highest priority, it is necessary to insist upon the development of digital business operations, in line with the European agenda.
Within the second session, MPs discussed the Conference on the Future of Europe. MPs voiced their expectation that the Conference would be held soon, aware that its holding is conditioned by the current situation. They concluded that it was key to achieve an agreement among the Parliament, Commission and Council on the adoption of the joint declaration on initiating the Conference. In that process, national parliaments hold an important role, while, according to MPs, the focus of the Conference could be the transparency of work of the Council of the EU.
In the meeting, the 33rd semi-annual COSAC report was presented, containing the recommendations by parliaments of EU member states and the European Parliament on the best practice of cooperation among the national parliaments and institutions, bodies and agencies of the EU, and on the legal mechanisms of parliamentary oversight.
The main conclusions from the first virtual COSAC meeting will be submitted to the Commission and the Council, in the chairperson’s letter.
The next COSAC will convene within the German presidency of the Council of the EU in mid-September.
