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Plenary Meeting of the LXII COSAC

1.12. - 3.12.2019

Plenary Meeting of the LXII COSAC

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 Helsinki COSAC will be one for open political discussion, hopefully leading to future European action.

Consolidating the Rule of Law is one of the themes of the Finnish Presidency. During the COSAC the relation between the Rule of Law and fundamental rights will also be discussed. Ten years ago, the EU took a massive step towards political cohesion by integrating into its acquis the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The presidency invites delegations to take stock of achievements in these fields and to suggest where the EU should go from here. Also, the mutual dynamic of security and fundamental rights may merit some reflection.

COSAC will also debate “A winning climate strategy for Europe”. Based on keynote introductions from European innovators, delegations are invited to discuss how climate and energy policy can be the basis for a new era of economic progress in Europe.

Finally, the presidency will devote some time to discussing COSAC itself. What are we doing right and what can we improve? The presidency hopes that this might be the basis for a process of renewing and revitalising the work of COSAC.

Videos

Day 1, Part 1 (English)

Day 1, Part 2 (English)

Day 1, Part 3 (English)

Day 2, Part 1 (English)

Day 2, Part 2 (English)

Sunday, 1 December

17.30 – 19.00 Meeting of the Presidential Troika


Monday, 2 December

8.15 – 9.00 Meetings of the political groups

9.00 – 9.15 Opening of the meeting

Welcome address by Mr Matti Vanhanen, Speaker of the Eduskunta
Introductory remarks by Mr Kimmo Kiljunen, Member of the Grand Committee of the Eduskunta

Adoption of the Agenda for the Plenary Meeting of the LXII COSAC

9.15 – 10.15 Session I: The Finnish Presidency of the EU Council

Chair: Mr Kimmo Kiljunen, Member of the Grand Committee of the Eduskunta
Speaker: Mr Antti Rinne, Prime Minister of Finland

Exchange of views

10.15 – 11.00 Procedural issues and miscellaneous matters

Information on the results of the Presidential Troika of COSAC
Letters received by the Presidency
Procedural issues
Co-financing of the Permanent Member of the COSAC secretariat
Presentation of the 32nd Biannual Report of COSAC

11.00 – 11.45 Family photo and coffee break

11.45 – 13.00 Session II: Promoting the Rule of Law in the EU and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Chair: Mr Kimmo Kiljunen, Member of the Grand Committee of the Eduskunta

Speakers:
Ms Tytti Tuppurainen, Minister for European Affairs, Government of Finland
Mr Michael O’Flaherty, Director, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights

Exchange of views

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch

14.30 – 16.30 Session III: Intervention by Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission

Moderator: Ms Mairéad McGuinness, First Vice-President, European Parliament

Exchange of views

16.30 – 17.30 Meeting of the COSAC Chairpersons

Appointment of the Permanent Member of the COSAC Secretariat

Discussion on the Draft Contribution and Draft Conclusions of the LXII COSAC


Tuesday, 3 December

9.00 – 10.30 Session IV: A Winning Climate Strategy for Europe

Chair: Ms Satu Hassi, Chair of the Grand Committee of the Eduskunta

Speakers:
Ms Mari Pantsar, Director, Carbon Neutral Circular Economy, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra
Professor Markku Ollikainen, Chair of the Finnish Climate Change Panel
Mr Pekka Timonen, Mayor of the City of Lahti (European Green Capital 2021)

Exchange of views

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 – 12.00 Intervention by Mr Michel Barnier, Head of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom

Chair: Ms Satu Hassi, Chair of the Grand Committee of the Eduskunta

Exchange of views

12.00 – 12.45 Adoption of the Contribution and Conclusions of the LXII COSAC

Chair: Ms Satu Hassi, Chair of the Grand Committee of the Eduskunta

12.45 – 13.00 Closing remarks by Ms Satu Hassi, Chair of the Grand Committee of the Eduskunta

Marina Congress Center

Katajanokanlaituri 6, Helsinki, Finland