Athens, 1 June 2021

Conclusion of 65th Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC)

The 65th Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) took place in the framework of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU from 30 May to 1 June 2021. The Hellenic Parliament was represented by a 4-member delegation consisting of the 1st Deputy Chair of the Special Standing Committee on European Affairs Dimitris Kairidis and Committee members Marietta Giannakou, Ioannis Bournous and Apostolos Panas. 

Speakers at the Conference included the Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, the Vice-President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, the Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas and Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni. 

On the first day of the conference, in the Session on the Portuguese Presidency, Mrs. Giannakou said that despite the progress the Portuguese presidency had made in some areas, important dossiers remained incomplete. She made special reference to the new plan on European migration policy, pointing out that events in Ceuta proved that the migrant issue can become a negotiation tool for third countries. She also referred to the lack of progress in strengthening resilience and the global role of the EU, in the sense of deepening the common defence policy and the capabilities of enhanced cooperation, to the enlargement process with the countries of the Western Balkans, but also to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).  In her intervention in the session on the Conference on the Future of Europe, Mrs. Giannakou stressed the importance of horizontal cooperation between national parliaments and noted that the conference should consider, among other things, the review of European governance, but also a single EU identity in foreign and security and defence policy.

Mr. Bournous who took the floor during the session on “Social Europe: what model for the triple economic, digital and climate transition?” noted that the Portuguese Presidency rightly emphasised the Social Pillar, social rights, reducing inequalities and a minimum guaranteed income, but also the rapid launch of recovery programmes for the immediate creation of jobs. He pointed out, however, that Europe is lagging behind in managing the economic impact of the pandemic, settling for programmes that are beneath what was expected, and argued that a decisive initiative is absolutely necessary to tackle public debt amassed as a result of the pandemic, before it becomes a new excuse for austerity. Summing up, Mr. Bournous called for the definitive change of the Stability Pact and its replacement with a Pact that will not hinder the equal growth of all European economies. 

On the second day of the conference, Mr. Kairidis, speaking during the session on the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans, congratulated the Commission on the agreement to create a Recovery Fund, voiced however the view that the earmarked funding may prove inadequate in comparison to the fiscal expansion announced by the American government and proposed it be further enhanced and permanent mechanisms put into place. Mr. Gentiloni, in his second intervention, responded that this will depend on the success rate of the Fund. 

 

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