Conferences

Conferences of different working levels and topics

• The Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments

  The presidents of parliaments are among the highest representatives of a state. Periodic conferences of parliamentary leaders are an important part of international diplomacy. 

  In addition to the exchange of information and experience, their conferences often focus on issues concerning the role of parliaments, the organization of parliamentary cooperation, and their legislative activity.

• COSAC (Conference of European Parliamentary Committees)

  COSAC ("Conférence des Organes spécialisés en Affaires communautaires") was founded in 1989 as a parliamentary body at the EU level to strengthen the role of national parliaments through regular meetings. It is composed of representatives of the European affairs committees of the national parliaments of the EU Member States and representatives of the EP. It may bring to the attention of the EP, the Council, and the Commission any contribution it deems appropriate.

  The meetings of COSAC take place four times a year. The task of COSAC is primarily the exchange of information and experience with the participation of the European Parliament and the relevant Commissioners and experts. Semi-annual reports of COSAC can be found here.

• Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol

  The task of this parliamentary control entity is to accompany and monitor the work of the European police agency Europol in accordance with legal requirements. Europol has the obligation to submit various documents to the Group, such as the annual work programs or the annual activity report.

• Inter-Parliamentary Conference for CFSP and CSDP

  The Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) deals with parliamentary scrutiny and information channels in the area of EU security and foreign policy after the dissolution of the Western European Union (WEU). Its establishment was decided at the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments in Warsaw in April 2012.

• Inter-Parliamentary Conf. on Stability, Economic Policy Coord. and Governance in the EU

  IPC on SECG was created to increase the involvement of national parliaments in the discussion on EU economic policy coordination and to intensify the exchange on these issues between the European Commission, the European Parliament (EP), and national parliaments.

• Conferences of the EP's specialist committees

  Currently, there are 20 specialized committees of the EP, which can invite the respective committees of the national parliaments to a joint meeting or a public hearing. Depending on the agenda, specific bills or general EU-relevant issues are discussed.