LXV COSAC: the time of important decisions in the EU’s policy – inclusive economic recovery and the goal of engaging all Europeans in shaping the future of Europe

Press release, 1 June 2021

On 31 May – 1 June 2021, Laima Andrikienė, Domas Griškevičius, and Marius Matijošaitis, Deputy Chairs of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, and Tomas Tomilinas, its member, are taking part in the remote plenary sitting of the LXV Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC). The meeting of 1 June 2021 served to exchange views on national recovery and resilience plans and the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Mr Matijošaitis thanked the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union for its efforts to accelerate the implementation of the financial stimulus package NextGenerationEU, welcomed the finalisation of the ratification procedure of the Own Resources Decision with a view to ensuring successful implementation of national recovery and resilience plans. ‘In the hope for transparent, progressive and smart investment, we can not only recover but also prosper,’ the politician stressed.

While speaking on behalf of the Seimas delegation, Ms Andrikienė emphasised that Lithuania’s priorities in respect of the Conference included security and investment in resilience to external threats, promotion of EU founding values, green and digital transition, and the EU’s openness to neighbouring countries that demonstrate their European orientation. The Member of the Seimas highlighted Lithuania’s position that the EU should refrain from amending the existing EU treaties, act within their scope by focusing on the initiatives on which we could reach a consensus. Ms Andrikienė noted the crucial role of citizens in this Conference, as ‘the citizens have to “set the tone” and play a leading part in the Conference to be taking place until the end of this year, and the conclusions of the Conference have to presented in spring 2022’.  

Participants of the COSAC stressed the importance of implementation of national recovery and resilience plans and that they had to be oriented towards future economic transformation, sustainability and post-pandemic recovery. The majority of national Parliaments highlighted how important it was for them to engage in the drafting of the plans and further parliamentary scrutiny of their implementation.

Particular attention was given to the promising Conference on the Future of Europe, which is to facilitate, through an interactive digital platform, an open, inclusive and transparent debate of citizens on the kind of future of Europe we need. Participants of the COSAC took note of the active role of national Parliaments in  the Conference, welcomed the equitable representation of EU institutions and Member States in plenary sessions and in the work of the committees and working groups of the Conference, and approved the adoption of the Conference conclusions by consensus.

The Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC) is a Conference of the committees of the national Parliaments of the European Union Member States dealing with the European Union affairs as well as representatives of the European Parliament.

The Conference that is held every six months may submit any contribution it deems appropriate for the attention of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. It promotes the exchange of information and best practice between national Parliaments and the European Parliament.

Portugal is holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2021.

Aistė Pikiotienė, Adviser, Office of the Committee on European Affairs, tel. +370 5 239 6864