In its contribution to the Convention debate on
the future of the EU, COSAC (Conference of Community and
European Affairs Committees) has demanded a bigger role for the
national parliaments in EU politics. COSAC wants to be reformed
into a Forum of Parliaments, which will represent the national
parliaments in EU policy-making.
The Danish Presidency of the COSAC (1 July – 31 December
2002) has laid out the Conference’s proposals in a working
paper for COSAC’s next meeting in Copenhagen on 16-18
October 2002. The candidate countries for EU membership
will be invited to a special COSAC conference on 15-16
October 2002.
Some of COSAC’s main proposals:
- the role of the national parliaments in EU politics
is to be enhanced - EU law-making procedures and deadlines must allow the
possibility for the democratic integration of EU politics
into the national parliaments - COSAC is to be reformed into a Forum of Parliaments,
which will be tasked with:- enhancing the role of the national parliaments in
EU politics - enhancing parliamentary co-operation between the
national and European parliamentarians - ensuring contacts and co-operation with EU
institutions.
- enhancing the role of the national parliaments in
COSAC’s working paper rejects proposals
to set up a second chamber of the European Parliament.
Instead, it recommends that EU politics be systematically
integrated into the work of national parliaments. “Only in
this manner can European politics be anchored among all
parliamentarians in the national parliaments, thereby
becoming a natural part of the political work and of the
public debate,” states the document.
COSAC underlines that the majority of
the proposed changes do not require a treaty modification.
A reform of the COSAC could be implemented immediately,
however, national parliaments should nevertheless
participate in the negotiations concerning a new
treaty.
