Rules of Procedure of the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union
Date: 2008-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: COSAC, interinstitutional cooperation (EU), operation of the Institutions

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(Information)

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Rules of Procedure of

the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of

Parliaments of the European Union

(2008/C 27/02)

These Rules of Procedure are designed to facilitate and improve the work of the Conference of Community
and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union, hereinafter referred to as COSAC,
established in Paris 16-17 November 1989.

They may be applied to the meetings of other parliamentary Committees convened by the Parliament
holding the Presidency of the EU.

On the basis of the XXVII COSAC in Copenhagen from 16-18 October 2002 it was decided at the extraor-
dinary XXVIII COSAC in Brussels on 27 January 2003 to strengthen co-operation between the National
Parliaments in the EU, to extend the rules of procedure with new rules for voting and to adopt guidelines
for effective parliamentary scrutiny of governments in connection with Community issues (Copenhagen
Parliamentary Guidelines).

The members of COSAC intend to work for the implementation of the Copenhagen Parliamentary Guide-
lines in accordance with their own parliamentary practice (1). The guidelines are laid down in a separate
declaration.

These Rules of Procedure, which were adopted by the XXIX COSAC in Athens on 5-6 May 2003, replace
the rules of procedure that were adopted in Helsinki on 11-12 October 1999.

1. TASKS AND COMPETENCES FOR COSAC

COSAC enables a regular exchange of views, without prejudicing the competences of the parliamentary
bodies of the European Union.

The Protocol on the Role of National Parliaments in the European Union to the Amsterdam Treaty
amending the Treaty on the European Union, the Treaties establishing the European Communities and
certain related acts, empower COSAC to make any contribution it deems appropriate for the attention of
the institutions of the European Union and to examine Union legislative activities, proposals and initiatives.

Contributions made by COSAC shall in no way bind National Parliaments or prejudge their position.

(1) As stated in the protocol on the role of National Parliaments, it is up to each National Parliament to decide the extent to
which the guidelines published as the ‘Copenhagen Parliamentary Guidelines’ in the Official Journal of the European Union
C 154 of 2 July 2003 should be implemented.

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2. FREQUENCY AND DATES OF MEETINGS

2.1. Ordinary meetings

One ordinary meeting of COSAC shall be held during each Presidency of the Council of the European
Union taking account of different parliamentary practices of Member States, of election periods and of the
dates of public holidays in Member States. The date of the next meeting shall be fixed and announced by
the date of the preceding meeting at the latest.

2.2. Extraordinary meetings

Extraordinary meetings of COSAC shall be held,
if deemed necessary, by an absolute majority of the
Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments and of the
appropriate body of the European Parliament.

2.3. Meetings of the Chairpersons

A preparatory meeting of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees and of the
representative of the European Parliament shall be held prior to meetings of COSAC, in agreement with the
presidential Troika. Each delegation consists of two members of its Parliament.

2.4. Extraordinary meetings of the Chairpersons

Extraordinary meetings of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees and the
appropriate body of the European Parliament shall be held, if proposed, by the Presidency, after consulting
the Presidential Troika, or, if deemed necessary, by an absolute majority of the Chairpersons of the Com-
munity and European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments and of the appropriate body of the
European Parliament.

2.5. The Presidential Troika of COSAC

The Presidential Troika of COSAC consists of the Presidency, the preceding Presidency, the next Presidency,
and the European Parliament. Each delegation consists of two members of its Parliament.

Agendas for Troika meetings shall be circulated to all National Parliaments and to the European Parliament
not less than two weeks before meetings, and minutes of Troika meetings shall be circulated to all the
National Parliaments and to the European Parliament not more than two weeks after such meetings.

2.6. Working groups

COSAC may decide to set up a working group to study a particular issue linked with the activities of the
European Union. Such a working group shall also be set up, if deemed necessary, by an absolute majority of
the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees of the National Parliaments and of
the appropriate body of the European Parliament. The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs
Committee of the Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency shall act as the Chairperson of the
working group. The Secretariat of the Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency shall provide
the secretariat for the working group.

2.7. Planning of the meetings

COSAC shall establish a rolling, long term, calendar of its meetings.

3. PLACE OF MEETINGS

Meetings shall take place in the Member State holding the Presidency. Extraordinary meetings, meetings of
the Chairpersons, meetings of the Troïka and meetings of working groups may be held elsewhere.

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4.1. Ordinary and extraordinary meetings

4. COMPOSITION

Each National Parliament shall be represented by a maximum of six members of its Community and
European Affairs Committee(s). The European Parliament shall be represented by six Members. Each
Parliament shall determine the composition of its own delegation.

4.2. Observers from the Parliaments of applicant countries

Three observers from the Parliaments of each applicant country shall be invited to ordinary and extraor-
dinary meetings.

4.3. Other observers, specialists and special guests

The Presidency shall invite observers from the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and
the European Commission, and it may invite observers from the embassies of the Member States of the
European Union, and, after consulting the Presidential Troika, specialists and special guests.

4.4. Public access to meetings

Meetings of COSAC shall be public, unless otherwise determined.

5. CONVOCATION

Ordinary meetings and meetings of the Chairpersons and of working groups shall be convened by the
Secretariat of the Parliament of the Member State holding the Presidency.

Extraordinary meetings shall be convened by the Secretariat of the Parliament of the Member State where
the meeting takes place.

6. DESIGNATION OF MEETINGS

The designation of ordinary and extraordinary meetings shall be ‘Conference of the Community and
European Affairs Committees (of the European Union's National Parliaments of the Member States and the
European Parliament) — COSAC’, with the name preceded by the number of the meeting in sequence,
followed by the date and place of the meeting.

7. AGENDA

7.1.
Before the last ordinary meeting of each year the delegations shall indicate the subjects they propose
be dealt with the following year. This matter shall be discussed at the end of the meeting. The Presidential
Troika, paying due account to the provisions of Part II of the Protocol to the Amsterdam Treaty on the Role
of National Parliaments in the European Union, proposes, at the beginning of each Presidency, one or
several subjects drawn from the working programme of the Council of the European Union, the European
Parliament, and the European Commission, or from proposals made during the meeting referred to above.

7.1.A.
exchanging information, in particular on the practical aspects of parliamentary scrutiny.

The principal business on every draft Agenda shall be derived from COSAC's role as a body for

7.2.
A draft agenda shall be drawn up by the Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs
Committee of the host Parliament, after consulting Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs
Committees and the representative of the European Parliament. National delegations may propose to the
Presidency that a specific item is put on the agenda.

7.3.

The meeting itself shall decide on its final agenda.

8. PREPARATION OF MEETINGS

The national delegations may send documents relating to items on the agenda to the secretariat of

8.1.
the host Parliament.

The national delegation of the Member State holding the Presidency may draw up discussion docu-

8.2.
ments for the conference.

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9. LANGUAGES

9.1.

Each delegation is responsible for translating any document, which it submits into English or French.

Participating Parliaments will receive conference documents in English or French. Each Parliament is

9.2.
responsible for translation into its national language.

9.3.

Simultaneous interpretation into the official languages of the EU is provided in the meetings.

The contributions of COSAC are drawn up in a single original in English and French, each of these

9.4.
texts being equally authentic.

10. COSAC CONTRIBUTIONS

10.1.
Amsterdam Treaty Protocol on the Role of National Parliaments in the European Union.

COSAC may address contributions to the institutions of the European Union pursuant to the

10.2.
Each national delegation may propose that a Contribution be adopted by COSAC. A draft contribu-
tion shall be drawn up if proposed by the Presidency, after consulting the Presidential Troika, or if deemed
necessary by an absolute majority of the Chairpersons of the Community and European Affairs Committees
of the National Parliaments and of the appropriate body of the European Parliament, or if decided in a
meeting of COSAC.

10.3.
vant meeting of COSAC to give them a reasonable period for scrutiny and remarks.

The draft of a contribution shall be communicated to the delegations in good time before the rele-

10.4.
The final draft of a contribution shall be prepared at the preparatory meeting of the Chairpersons
preceding the relevant meeting of COSAC. It shall embrace the observations and remarks by all delegations,
including possible declarations concerning the vote.

10.5.
In general COSAC shall seek to adopt contributions by broad consensus. If this is not possible,
contributions shall be adopted with a qualified majority of at least 3/4 of the votes cast. The majority of
3/4 of the votes cast must at the same time constitute at least half of all votes.

10.6.

Each delegation has two votes.

10.7.

After adoption, the contribution is published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

11. ROLE OF THE PRESIDENCY

11.1.
the Council of the European Union shall hold the Presidency of COSAC during that Presidency.

The Community and European Affairs Committee of the Member State holding the Presidency of

11.2.
assisted by the COSAC Secretariat.

The secretariat of the host Parliament shall prepare the documents for the meetings. It shall be

11.3.
open the debate.

The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the host Parliament shall

The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the host Parliament shall
11.4.
propose a timetable for the meeting and the length of speeches, which shall be four minutes, unless the
meeting determines otherwise.

11.5.
provided by the COSAC Secretariat.

The Secretariat of the host Parliament shall draw up brief minutes of the meeting. The draft is

11.6.
present the debate's conclusions, as drawn up by the Presidential Troika.

The Chairperson of the Community and European Affairs Committee of the host Parliament shall

11.7.
The secretariat of the Parliament holding the Presidency shall provide the secretariat for the
activities of COSAC during its term. The secretariats of National Parliaments and of the European Parliament
shall provide assistance.

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11 bis. THE COSAC SECRETARIAT

The COSAC Secretariat shall be composed of officials from the Parliaments of the Presidential Troika, and a
permanent member who supports the Secretariat in its activities.

The officials from the Parliaments of the Presidential Troika shall be appointed by each of the relevant
Parliaments for a non renewable period of eighteen months.

The permanent member shall be appointed by the COSAC Chairpersons on the proposal of the Presidential
Troika. He or she shall be an official of a National Parliament and shall remain in office for two years with
the possibility of one renewal.

The COSAC Secretariat shall assist the Presidency and the secretariat of the host Parliament in all its tasks.
The members of the COSAC Secretariat shall perform their duties under the political responsibility of the
COSAC Presidency and the Presidential Troika or according to the decisions taken by COSAC meetings. The
permanent member shall coordinate the activities of the COSAC Secretariat under the direction of the
Parliament holding the Presidency.

The cost for seconding the permanent member of the Secretariat to Brussels and other necessary technical
costs of the Secretariat are jointly borne by Parliaments wishing to contribute. The amount and the terms of
payment for the co-financed expenditure are defined in an agreement among the participating Parliaments.

If the meeting decides to issue a communiqué, a draft, annexed with possible contributions adopted, shall be
drawn up by the Presidential Troika.

12. DEBATE CONCLUSIONS

Communiqués shall be sent to the Parliaments of the Member States and the European Parliament, to the
Council of the European Union, and to the European Commission by the secretariat of the host Parliament.

13. ECIPIENTS OF COMMUNIQUÉS

14. REVISION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE

Proposals for a revision of the Rules of Procedure must be sent, in writing, from one or several
14.1.
delegations of one or several Parliaments to all National Parliaments of the Member States and to the
European Parliament at least a month before the meeting of COSAC.

14.2.
following the presentation of the proposal.

Proposals for a revision of the rules should be put on the agenda of the first meeting of COSAC

14.3.
Abstentions by delegations shall not prevent the adoption of the proposal.

Adoption of the proposal requires unanimity between the delegations present at the meeting.

14.4.

Quorum is at least 2/3 of the delegations.

14.5.

Each delegation has one vote.

15. ENTRY INTO FORCE

These Rules of Procedure shall enter into force as soon as they are published in the Official Journal of the
European Union. They are drawn up in a single original in English and French, each of these texts being
equally authentic.

The text of these Rules of Procedure shall, for the authentication thereof, be drawn up in Czech, Danish,
Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese,
Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish. The translations shall be agreed between the
National Parliaments using those languages and the European Parliament. In any question relating to the
interpretation of these Rules only the English and French versions shall have official status.

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APPENDICES

Declaration by the European Parliament on Rule 10.5 of the Rules of Procedure

The European Parliament can abstain in any vote on a contribution which is also addressed to it.