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The
future development of the European Union
1. COSAC expresses
its strong support for the enlargement process of the EU
and calls on the Governments of the Member States to take
appropriate measures so that the ratification process of
the Treaty of Nice is completed by the beginning of 2002.
2. COSAC
underlines the role of national Parliaments in the debate
about the future development of the European Union. National
Parliaments are close to their voters, and can thus function
as a link between the voters and the debate at the European
level. National Parliaments should therefore actively and
continuously foster a public dialogue about the matters
under concern. COSAC stresses the necessity to include the
Parliaments in the candidate countries in the debate.
3. A Convention
was used as a forum for drafting the Charter of Fundamental
Rights. The composition and working methods of a possible
Convention for the debate on the future development of the
European Union might therefore be discussed. COSAC stresses
the necessity that national Parliaments are given a strong
role in a body of this sort.
4. COSAC
in itself is a suitable forum for the debate. COSAC is recognised
in the Treaty and is entitled to forward contributions to
the EU institutions. COSAC will continue to meet during
every presidency and there is already a practical framework
in place for COSAC and a Troika that ensures continuity.
At the same time the rotating Presidency of COSAC facilitates
that attention is paid to different aspects. COSAC has the
virtue of including national Parliaments of the Member States
and the candidate countries, as well as the European Parliament.
The size of the delegations at COSAC ensures that different
political views from each country are represented. Thanks
to the regularity of the COSAC meetings, intense personal
networks develop between participant members. Everyone involved
may bring ideas from COSAC discussions to their national
debate.
5. COSAC
hereby declares its intention to actively follow and participate
in the debate. COSAC intends to put the future development
of the Union on its agenda at its meetings at least until
the next IGC.
6. A COSAC
Working Group, which was set up during the Swedish Presidency,
has discussed the role of national Parliaments and the European
Union. COSAC has decided that the Working Group will continue
its work and study the issues mentioned in the Nice Declaration.
Protocol
on the role of the national Parliaments in the European
Union
7.
COSAC recalls what is stated in the Protocol on the role
of the national Parliaments in the European Union, that
scrutiny by individual national parliaments of their own
government in relation to the activities of the Union is
a matter for the particular constitutional organization
and practice of each Member State. This means that the EU
should function in a way that allows every national Parliament
to work with EU matters in the way it decides for itself.
8. COSAC
draws the conclusion that the Protocol on the role of national
Parliaments has not been fully implemented since some parliaments
claim that they do not receive the documents within the
stated time limits. COSAC urges the institutions to ensure
that the Protocol, which is an integrated part of the Treaties,
is followed. COSAC notes that the Protocol does not explicitly
say who it is that should "promptly forward Commission consultation
documents (green and white papers and communications)" to
national Parliaments. COSAC asks the Council of Ministers
and the Commission to clarify the division of responsibility
between them in this respect.
The
new strategic objective of the European Union
9.
COSAC, in the spirit of the Lisbon European Council, welcomes
the acceptance by the Stockholm European Council of the
recommendations drawn up by the COSAC meetings in Lisbon
and Versailles regarding the Union's new strategic objective
to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based
economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth
with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. COSAC
recognises the impulse given to this process by the Swedish
EU Presidency.
Following-up
of this Contribution
10. COSAC urges the institutions to take
this Contribution into account. COSAC looks forward to the
report on the future of the European Union that, according
to the Nice Declaration on the Future of the Union, shall
be presented to the European Council in G�teborg in June
2001 and expects the report to consider this Contribution.
COSAC also notes that the main theme for the meeting in
Stockholm in September 2001 of the Conference of Speakers
of the EU Parliaments will be the role of national Parliaments
in the European structure.
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