One COSAC plenary meeting is held during each presidency in the current presidency state. The COSAC plenary approves conclusions and contributions on the issues discussed, usually related to the currently debated initiatives at the EU level, to priorities of the current presidency or to the regularly addressed issues of strengthening parliamentary control in European affairs and development of cooperation among national parliaments. The plenary is attended by up to six representatives for each EU national parliament and the European Parliament. It is also open to up to three members of candidate country parliaments and other guests as observers. The proposed conclusions and contribution of COSAC are adopted by consensus in principle. As opposed to the other existing inter-parliamentary platforms, if consensus cannot be reached, the Rules of Procedure of COSAC enable in very exceptional cases voting. A proposal is adopted if it wins support of three quarters of the votes cast. Each EU parliament (including the European Parliament) has two votes. At the same time, the majority must constitute at least half of all votes.
The COSAC plenary meeting is chaired jointly by chairpersons of the European committees of both chambers of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
The history and operation of COSAC
COSAC (from the French Conférence des organes spécialisés dans les affaires communautaires) was established in 1989 upon the initiative of the then President of the French National Assembly, Laurent Fabius. As part of the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments held in Madrid, Fabius raised a proposal to elevate the role of national parliaments in the EU decision-making procedures, inter alia, through chairing the COSAC. The Speakers supported the idea and agreed that the Conference should meet at least twice a year in the current presidency country and should discuss issues of common interest. The first meeting took place several months later in Paris and the main theme was enhancing parliamentary control in European affairs. This cross-cutting theme still remains a part of the COSAC conferences.
The operation of COSAC is governed by the Rules of Procedure of 2011, replacing the original Rules of Procedure of 2007. According to their provisions, a preparatory meeting at the level of chairpersons (so-called small COSAC) is held every six months, serving as a basis for the plenary meeting.
COSAC is the most influential platform for exchanging information and good practice among national parliaments and the European Parliament in terms of the practical impact of its decisions. From the viewpoint of primary law, it is the only platform of inter-parliamentary cooperation, explicitly mentioned in Protocol No 1 on the role of national parliaments in the European Union, attached to the Treaty of Lisbon. In line with its Art. 10, COSAC may submit any contribution it deems appropriate for the attention of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. The contributions do not bind the participating parliaments and do not prejudge their positions. Moreover, COSAC should “promote the exchange of information and best practice between national parliaments and the European Parliament, including their special committees”. According to the Rules of Procedure, the Conference is the only one to have a permanent secretariat in Brussels, consisting of officers of the presidency trio parliaments and one permanent member co-financed by all EU national parliaments. They share in the organisation of all meetings and ensure continuity of COSAC activity. Every six months, they draw up a report on activities of the national parliaments in European affairs. In doing that, they draw on answers from a questionnaire they prepare every six months.
Agenda
November 13, 2022
15:00 — 18:00Arrival of delegations, check-in at the hotels, accreditation
17:30 — 19:00Meeting of the Presidential Troika of COSAC
Session chaired by Mr Ondřej Benešík, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
17:30 Departure by shuttle buses from the hotels
18:00 - 19:00 Meeting of the Presidential Troika,
Venue: Chamber of Deputies, Sněmovní 4, Praha 119:00 Departure by shuttle buses for the dinner reception
19:00Departure by shuttle buses from the hotels to the dinner venue
19:30 — 22:00Dinner reception
hosted by Mr Ondřej Benešík, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
Venue: Žofín Palace, Slovanský ostrov 226, Praha 1
22:00Return by shuttle buses to the hotels
November 14, 2022
7:15Departure by shuttle buses from the hotels to the meetings of the political groups
8:00 — 8:45Meetings of the political groups
8:15Departure by shuttle buses from the hotels to the conference venue
Venue: O2 Universum, Českomoravská 2345/17, Praha 9 - Libeň
9:00 — 9:20Opening of the meeting
Session chaired by Mr Ondřej Benešík, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
Welcome address by H. E. Ms Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies
Opening remarks by
• Mr Ondřej Benešík, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
• Mr David Smoljak, Chairman of the Committee on EU Affairs, SenateAdoption of the Draft Agenda for the Plenary Meeting of the LXVIII COSAC
9:20 — 9:50Procedural issues and miscellaneous matters
• Results of the Meeting of the Presidential Troika of COSAC
• Presentation of the 38th Bi-annual Report of COSAC
• Letters received by the Presidency
• Procedural issues
• Any other business9:50 — 10:00Keynote Video Message:
H. E. Ms Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
10:00 — 11:00Session I: The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU
Session chaired by Mr David Smoljak, Member of the Committee on EU Affairs, Senate
Keynote Speaker: Mr Mikuláš Bek, Minister for European Affairs, Government of the Czech Republic
Debate
11:00 — 11:30Coffee break
11:30 — 13:00Session II: Future of the EU
Session chaired by Mr Petr Fifka, Vice- Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
Keynote Speaker 1: Mr Othmar Karas, First Vice - President of the European Parliament
Keynote Speaker 2: Ms Věra Jourová, Vice - President of the European CommissionDebate
13:00 — 14:45Family photo and buffet lunch
14:45 — 16:15Session III: Strategic autonomy of the EU
Session chaired by Mr David Smoljak, Member of the Committee on EU Affairs, Senate
Keynote Speaker 1: Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission
Keynote Speaker 2: H. E. Mr Václav Bartuška, Ambassador-at-Large for Energy Security of the Czech RepublicDebate
16:15Return by shuttle buses to the hotels (except the Chairpersons)
16:15 — 17:30Meeting of the COSAC Chairpersons
Session chaired by Mr Ondřej Benešík, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
16:15 - 16:30 Coffee break
16:30 - 17:30 Discussion on the Draft Contribution and Draft Conclusions of the LXVIII COSAC
17:30 Return by shuttle buses to the hotels
19:30Departure by shuttle buses from the hotels to the dinner venue
20:00 — 22:30Dinner reception
hosted by H. E. Ms Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies
Venue: Smetana Hall, Municipal House, Náměstí Republiky 1090, Praha 1, Staré Město
22:30Return by shuttle buses to the hotels
November 15, 2022
8:15Departure by shuttle buses from the hotels to the conference venue
Venue: O2 Universum, Českomoravská 2345/17, Praha 9 - Libeň
9:00 — 10:45Session IV: Ukraine - state of play, reconstruction, migration
Session chaired by Ms Lucie Potůčková, Vice - Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
Keynote Speaker 1: Mr Tomáš Pojar, Advisor to Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on Security and Foreign Affairs Issues
Keynote Speaker 2: Ms Ivanna Klympush – Tsintsadze, Chairperson of the Committee on Ukraine´s EU Integration, Verkhovna Rada of UkraineDebate
10:45 — 11:10Coffee break
11:10 — 12:40Session V: European Perspective of the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries
Session chaired by Mr Jaroslav Bžoch, Vice - Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
Keynote Speaker 1: Mr Mirek Topolánek, Former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
Keynote Speaker 2: Mr Salvatore De Meo, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, European ParliamentDebate
12:40 — 13:00Closing session: Adoption of the Contribution and Conclusions of the LXVIII COSAC
Session chaired by Mr Ondřej Benešík, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies
Closing remarks by
Mr Ondřej Benešík, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, Chamber of Deputies13:00 — 14:00Lunch
14:00Return by shuttle buses to the hotel
Documents
Photos
All photos from the conference are available here:
- Nov 13, 2022: https://www.flickr.com
- Nov 14, 2022: https://www.flickr.com
- Nov 15, 2022: https://www.flickr.com
Opening session of the “Troika” in the premises of the Chamber of Deputies (Nov 13, 2022):
Festive dinner of conference participants in the Žofín Palace (Nov 13, 2022):
Family photo (Nov 14, 2022):
Opening of the meeting (Nov 14, 2022):
Session I: The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU (Nov 14, 2022):
Session II: Future of the EU (Nov 14, 2022):
Session III: Strategic autonomy of the EU (Nov 14, 2022):
Session IV: Ukraine – state of play, reconstruction, migration (Nov 15, 2022):
Session V: European Perspective of the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries (Nov 15, 2022):
Videos
Video from the conference:
Day 1 – Nov 14, 2022
9:00 — 11:00
Opening of the meeting
Procedural issues
Keynote Video Message: Ms Ursula von der Leyen
Session I: The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU
http://videoarchiv.psp.cz
11:30 — 13:30
Session II: Future of the EU
http://videoarchiv.psp.cz
14:50 — 16:30
Session III: Strategic autonomy of the EU
http://videoarchiv.psp.cz
Day 2 – Nov 15, 2022
9:00 — 10:45
Session IV: Ukraine – state of play, reconstruction, migration
http://videoarchiv.psp.cz
11:10 — 13:00
Session V: European Perspective of the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries
Closing session: Adoption of the Contribution and Conclusions of the LXVIII COSAC
http://videoarchiv.psp.cz