The 6th COSAC in Lisbon on 4-5 May 1992 was the first COSAC to follow the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. The Conference therefore focused on an exchange of information on the state of the ratification procedures of the Maastricht Treaty in the Member States.
The results of the IGC were also discussed. The Maastricht Treaty was the first Treaty to mention the role of national parliaments. Declaration 13 encouraged “greater involvement of national Parliaments in the activities of the European Union”. It called for an increased exchange of information between national parliaments and the European Parliament. Governments were encouraged to “ensure, inter alia, that national Parliaments received Commission proposals for legislation in good time for information or possible examination”. Declaration 14 invited national parliaments and the European Parliament to meet under the Assizes-format to be consulted on the main features of the EU. It was even foreseen that the Presidents of the European Council and the Commission should report to the Assizes. The Maastricht Treaty had no immediate impact on COSAC, which was not mentioned in the text itself. But the wording of Declaration 13 reflected the conclusions of the 1st COSAC.
A number of delegations expressed disappointment about the outcome of the IGC and proposed that COSAC should adopt a resolution calling upon the governments to convene a new IGC to address the democratic deficit in the EC. But no consensus could be reached on such an initiative.
The Lisbon COSAC also debated the “Delors II package” on a new financial perspective for the financing of the EC. A proposal that COSAC should ask for an IGC on budgetary control of Community finances did not find consensus. The Lisbon COSAC was the first Conference not to adopt a communiqué, but the Portuguese Presidency under its own responsibility issued a final declaration in its place, as foreseen by the Rules of Procedure.