Peace and reform at the heart of COSAC's concerns

During the first thematic session of the 71st plenary session of COSAC, held at the European Parliament in Brussels, MPs from all over Europe took stock of the past European legislature (2019-2024) and looked to the future with the Council's strategic programme for the period 2024-2029. The debates focused on the fight against fake news during the elections, the strengthening of the European Union and the situation in Ukraine.

COSAC (Conférence des Organes Spécialisés dans les Affaires Communautaires) brings together the European affairs committees of the national parliaments and a delegation from the European Parliament. In Belgium, it is the Federal Advisory Committee on European Affairs. The COSAC plenary session (24-26 March) is the last in a series of conferences organised by the Belgian parliaments as part of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 January-30 June 2024).

Combating fake news during elections

Eliane Tillieux, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Co-Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee on European Affairs, Gaëtan Van Goidsenhoven, Senator and Co-Chair of the Federal Advisory Committee on European Affairs, and Othmar Karas, First Vice-President of the European Parliament, stressed that without parliaments there can be no liberal democracy.

Without good cooperation, tasks cannot be accomplished properly. Our common ground is not limited to a simple discussion of competences. Cooperation is necessary to meet current and future challenges, because it cannot be achieved solely at national level. It's not just about security or migration, but also about the environment, digitisation, artificial intelligence, the economy and democracy. On this last point - particularly in the run-up to the elections - particular attention is needed to meet the challenges of fake news and disinformation.

Hence, emphasis was laid on making the European elections a common cause, as they involve European, national, regional and local aspects. The members of the various European parliaments present should encourage their citizens to vote and inform them about the European elections and the role of the European Parliament.

"Protecting peace, strengthening Europe and preparing for the future”

The Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Mobility pointed out that since the start of the Belgian Presidency, the EU's political and legislative agenda has made significant progress. Some sixty priority dossiers have been finalised. The defence of democracy and the annual dialogue on the rule of law have also been central concerns.

A number of important laws were adopted to defend the rights of women and workers, including the directive against trafficking in human beings, the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence, the directive on work on platforms and the dossiers on the European invalidity card, the European parking card, etc.

For Ukraine, an agreement has been reached on the Ukraine Aid Fund: the exceptional revenue generated by the interest on frozen Russian assets will be used to help Ukraine defend itself against its aggressor and rebuild. Belgium also wants to play a facilitating role in Ukraine's accession to the EU.

With regard to the situation in the Middle East, Belgium considers that the two-state solution is the only one capable of ensuring a lasting peace.

Strengthening the EU also involves a more effective fight against international financial crime. The anti-money laundering package has been finalised and the European Port Alliance has been launched.

In addition to protecting and strengthening the EU, the Belgian Presidency has endeavoured to prepare it to face future challenges such as global warming, in the best possible way. ​ A number of Green Deal dossiers have been finalised: the revision of emission standards for new heavy commercial vehicles, the directive on air quality and the treatment of urban waste water, and the revision of the regulation on packaging and packaging waste.

Focus will also be put in the future on European mobility policy. This will involve strengthening day and night rail services throughout Europe.

As far as the internal market is concerned, the fight against social dumping is continuing.

In June 2024, the EU's strategic agenda will have to be adapted to the considerable changes taking place in the world.

Enlargement is essential, but it must not be at the expense of the EU's democratic, economic and institutional coherence.

The next legislature must continue on the path mapped out by the Green Deal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

"War is not a computer game"

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Committee for the Integration of Ukraine into the European Union, thanked everyone for the help they had given Ukraine. However, she stressed that people should not get used to war: "It's not a computer game, where you just finish a level. It's still a daily reality for us: power cuts, the sound of sirens, anti-aircraft guns, waiting in shelters".

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze also wondered what Europe intends to do with Russia's frozen assets. She has been positive about using the interest earned to buy weapons. But will Europe use the assets to buy weapons and rebuild Ukraine? She believes that the time has come for Europe to move from words to deeds when it comes to democracy, people's rights and fundamental rights. It has therefore called for the European Union's strategic programme for the period 2024-2029 to give priority to strengthening Europe's defence capabilities and military investment, to the strategic enlargement of the EU, to its reform and to betting on Russia's strategic defeat. "Because if Ukraine loses, Europe loses and war will also be on your streets. If Russia wins, you put the free world up for sale".

More information and photos

All the information and additional documents concerning the conference are available on the website of the parliamentary dimension of the EU Presidency.

The meeting can be reviewed on the Parliamentary Dimension's YouTube channel.

High-resolution photos are available on the Parliamentary Dimension's Flickr channel.