The first debate, in presence of Mr François FILLON, Prime Minister of France, was on the French Presidency of the European Union. In addition to the four priorities originally chosen by France for its Presidency (the Climate-Energy package, Immigration, Common Agricultural Policy, European Defence Policy), François FILLON spoke at length on the international financial and economic crisis and on the conflict between Georgia and Russia. He expressed wish that the Treaty of Lisbon were ratified by all the Member States, including Ireland, so that Europe could swiftly benefit from an institutional set-up which was more adapted to the challenges of the day.
COSAC expressed its support to the conclusions of the European Council of 15 October 2008 on the financial and economical crisis. Considering that this crisis should not interrupt the work on the Climate-Energy package, COSAC called for carrying on efforts with a view to reaching an agreement before the end of 2008. Finally, COSAC hoped that the concerns expressed by the Irish people in the referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon would be addressed so that the process of ratification could be completed.
COSAC then held a debate on the energy security of the Union and the Member States on the basis of the report written by Mr Claude MANDIL, former executive director of the International Energy Agency. The importance of diversifying energy sources (including renewable energy) and supply routes was underlined as well as the necessity for the Member States to show more solidarity, in particular through setting up of an internal energy market which would create favourable conditions for collective decisions.
Then, with the participation of Mr Jean- Pierre JOUYET, Secretary of State for European Affairs, COSAC discussed the issue of bringing Europe closer to its citizens. Participants exchanged views on possible remedies to the disaffection of the citizens with the European Union, which became evident after two consecutive treaties aimed at modification the Union's institutional functioning were rejected by referenda in three different Member States. COSAC considered that in order to be understood by the citizens, the Union should concentrate on priority issues of common interest, for which it is the most appropriate level and communicate them efficiently to the public. The idea of an annual debate on "the State of the Union" has also been brought up.
COSAC also dealt with issues related to the area of freedom, security and justice and to the association of national parliaments to the construction of this area. Mr Jacques BARROT, Vice-president of the European Commission, Mr Max-Peter RATZEL, Director of Europol and Mr Jose Luis LOPES DA MOTA, President of the College of Eurojust participated in the debate. COSAC exchanged views on possible forms of cooperation between national parliaments and the European Parliament. COSAC expressed wish that proposals on possible forms of participation of national parliaments in the scrutiny of Europol’s activities and the evaluation of Eurojust’s activities, provided by the Treaty of Lisbon, would be debated during its next meetings. COSAC also wished that the European Commission sent a consultation document on the involvement of national parliaments before finalising its proposals for regulation concerning the activities of Europol and Eurojust.
XL COSAC in Paris had two debated on the application on the principle of subsidiarity. First, it debated the conclusions of the working group constituted by the representatives of the national parliaments to the European Union. The working group was established under the Slovenian COSAC Presidency and aimed at drawing proposals for better cooperation between national parliaments in the application of Protocol 2 on the Principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon. Agreement was reached on the following points: use of the IPEX network for exchange of information on subsidiarity, encouraging informal exchanges through the network of representatives of national parliaments to the European Union, role of the COSAC Secretariat in informing national parliaments when one of the thresholds provided for by Protocol 2 was reached.
Finally, COSAC discussed the results of the COSAC-coordinated subsidiarity check on the proposal for a directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The participants of the debate welcomed an informal indication by the Commission to take into consideration parliamentary recess if it coincided with the period of eight weeks for submitting reasoned opinions of national parliaments. Several delegations wished that the European Parliament and the Council would take a similar decision.
