Contact with other parliaments of the European Union

 

The COSAC delegation

The COSAC, the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union, was founded in May 1989 by the Presidents of the parliaments of the Member States of the European Union. The COSAC is a cooperation body between the committees of national parliaments specialising in European affairs and the representatives of the European Parliament.

 

Composition of the COSAC

The COSAC is made up of representatives of the parliamentary committees or delegations responsible for European affairs. COSAC members are from:

  • the national parliaments of the 28 Member States of the European Union

  • the national parliaments of the candidate countries (Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey)

  • the European Parliament.

Role of the COSAC

The COSAC may make any contribution it deems appropriate for the attention of the institutions of the European Union. The COSAC may examine Union legislative activities and proposals.

COSAC meetings

Twice a year, the COSAC organises an exchange of opinions between its members. Meetings are prepared in the context of a meeting of Presidents of the delegations.

The Conference of Presidents of the Parliaments of the EU

Since 1975, the Conference of Presidents of the Parliaments of the European Union meets each year. In this meeting, the presidents of the parliamentary assemblies of the European Union and the European Parliament exchange opinions, information and experiences on the role of national parliaments and their functioning.

The Luxembourg members of the European Parliament

The European Parliament is the only European Union body to be directly elected by its citizens in European elections. 705 European deputies are elected every five years by the voters of the 27 Member States of the Union.

Participation in certain meetings of the Chamber of Deputies

The Luxembourg members of the European Parliament may be invited to attend committee meetings when these meetings deal with European issues. (Article 26, paragraph 1 and Article 168, paragraph 3 of the Chamber’s Rules of Procedure). They may also take part in exchanges with European dignitaries (for example members of the European Commission) during working visits in Luxembourg.