Athens, 30 November 2020

First day of 64th Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of EU (COSAC)

The 64th Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) kicked off today and it is taking place via teleconference in the framework of the German EU Council Presidency. On the agenda are Euro-Atlantic relations following the US elections, lessons learned form the pandemic and a review of the German presidency, which was presented by the German Chancellor, Mrs. Angela Merkel. The Hellenic Parliament is being represented by the 1st Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament and Chairman of the European Affairs Committee, Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis and by Mr. Dimitris Keridis, MP and deputy chair of the European Affairs Committe and by Mr. Ioannis Bournous, MP and member of the European Affairs Committee.   

Mr. Keridis, commenting on the US election results, said he felt optimistic regarding Euro-Atlantic relations, considering the newly-elected US President is an experienced politician, an internationalist and supports a strong Europe. He stressed, however, that there is no room to repeat the mistakes of the past that led to the difficult period during the Trump Presidency and emphasized the need for the EU to “become emancipated”, especially in the field of security and foreign policy. 

In his intervention during the discussion on lessons learned from the pandemic, Mr. Bournous noted that the pandemic has brought to the fore significant management weaknesses at EU level, especially with regard to tracing and curtailing the community transmission of the virus, and especially when compared to measures taken by countries in East Asia. He pointed out that the national healthcare systems of the member states were significantly affected by the 10-year austerity that preceded the pandemic and expressed his concern about whether the 5,1 billion euros allocated in the European budget to health care are enough to meet the real needs and ensure access to public, high quality health services to all citizens and residents of the EU. In response to that, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Director, Dr. Andrea Ammon, noted that the EU is working together with countries in SE Asia, mainly Singapore, which have more experience, both the state and the citizens, due to the fact that they had to recently address the avian influenza.

The first day was concluded with Mrs. Merkel's intervention on the achievements of the German Presidency. During the Q&A, Mr. Keridis expressed his concern vis-à-vis the increasing aggressiveness of Turkey towards Greece and Cyprus, and its overall provocative stance in the wider region, from Libya to Belarus and the Caucasus, and wondered whether at the European Summit in December the European leaders will be willing to provide a single response to Turkey's infringing conduct. In answer to that, Mrs. Merkel pointed out that in recent years Turkey has adopted a provocative stance in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, she said she also appreciates the fact that Turkey is hosting more than 3 million Syrian refugees on its soil, who should remain close to their homes. 

 

 

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