The XXVII COSAC in Copenhagen on 16-18 October 2002 launched an ambitious reform programme, which was to preoccupy COSAC for more than a year.
A working group composed of the Chairmen of the European Affairs Committees of the national parliaments, chaired by Mr Claus Larsen-Jensen, was established with a comprehensive reform mandate, which among other things included drafting a code of conduct for effective national parliamentary scrutiny of EU matters, considering how to involve sectoral committees in COSAC, drafting proposals for establishing a COSAC secretariat and how to introduce majority decisions in COSAC. It was also proposed to highlight that COSAC’s main role should be defined as assisting national parliaments to improve their effectiveness in EU matters, especially their scrutiny of government activities in the EU, by sharing best practise and information.
The working group agreed on a set of recommendations which were passed on to the Greek Presidency on 10 January 2003. These recommendations included among other things an agreement on the introduction of qualified majority in COSAC and in principle the establishment of some kind of “secretarial support” for COSAC. But no agreement could be reached on the composition, financing and procedure for appointment of the secretarial staff. The working group rejected the idea of involving sectoral committees in COSAC, but suggested that COSAC should make itself available as a supporting structure, if sectoral committees wanted to organise meetings. The working group also agreed to recommend a number of minimum standards for national parliamentary scrutiny.
As agreed at the previous meeting in Madrid, COSAC also debated the future of Europe. Ms Gisela Stuart, Chairperson of the working group in the Convention dealing with the role of national parliaments, addressed COSAC and gave an overview of the work in the Convention.