Presidency of the Council of the European Union: COSAC – Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs on 19 and 20 November

European parliamentarians to discuss Brexit, the Energy Union and the upcoming European elections in Vienna

On 19 and 20 November the Austrian Parliament will host the Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC). The meeting agenda is to include a debate with EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier, which will focus on Brexit negotiations. The members of the national parliaments of the 28 EU Member States and the accession candidate countries, as well as members of the European Parliament will also discuss climate policy and the Energy Union, as well as the question of a transparent European Union that is close to its citizens in light of upcoming European elections. The conference will take place at the Austria Center Vienna, the permanent conference and media centre of the Austrian EU Presidency.

On the first day of the conference, EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier will be reporting on the current state of play of Brexit. Sir William Cash (Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, House of Commons) and Lord Boswell of Aynho (Chairman of the EU Select Committee, House of Lords) will address the issue of Brexit negotiations from the UK perspective. Austrian State Secretary Karoline Edtstadler will provide insights into the state of play of the Austrian EU Presidency. The keynote speeches on climate policy will be given by European Commissioner for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and Director of the R20 Regions of Climate Action Monika Langthaler.

The second day of the conference will be devoted to discussing the issue of a European Union that is transparent and close to its citizens against the backdrop of the upcoming European elections. Statements will be presented by First Vice-President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness, and Austrian Federal Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice Josef Moser.

The COSAC Plenary Meeting will be opened by Austrian National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka and Austrian Federal Council President Inge Posch-Gruska. The two-day conference will be chaired by Reinhold Lopatka and Christian Buchmann, chairs of the European affairs committees of the Austrian National Council and the Austrian Federal Council, respectively.

COSAC

The European affairs committees of the national parliaments are responsible for debating EU projects and for preliminary consultations for EU legislative proposals in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. The objective of COSAC is to enable a regular exchange of views on current EU-relevant issues, on their debates in the national parliaments as well as on the participation and role of the national parliaments in the EU. Furthermore, the meeting provides a forum for adopting COSAC's Contribution and its Conclusions, and for presenting its semi-annual report.

COSAC meetings are held four times a year: The first half-year meeting brings together the chairs of the European affairs committees of the national parliaments. The second meeting, the COSAC Plenary, is made up of a maximum of six COSAC delegates from each national parliament and the European Parliament. The parliaments of the candidate countries also have the opportunity to send delegates to the conferences as observers.

Accreditation for media representatives

Permanent accreditation for the Austrian EU Presidency is valid for all conferences and press events of the parliamentary dimension.

Participation in the media events in the context of the COSAC Plenary Meeting and in the media room of the Permanent Conference Facility and Media Centre at the Austria Center Vienna (ACV), Bruno-Kreisky-Platz 1, 1220 Vienna, requires prior online accreditation with the Federal Press Service.

Online accreditation can be obtained directly through the EU Presidency website www.eu2018.at.

Accreditation badges will be issued from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Media Accreditation Office of the Federal Press Service (Schauflergasse 1, 1010 Vienna).

On both conference days, accreditation badges will also be issued at the media accreditation desk at the Permanent Conference Facility and Media Centre, ACV.

Issue desk on the two conference days at the Austria Center Vienna:
Monday, 19 Nov.: 7:30 until 15:00
Tuesday, 20 Nov.: 8:00 until 11:00

Please note that when picking up your badge, you have to present confirmation of accreditation and a valid press ID or the original letter of authorisation from the respective media company and an official ID with a photo (ID card, passport, driving license).

Accreditation contact:
Mag. Irene Kaufmann
+43 1 53115 202561
irene.kaufmann@bka.gv.at
federalpressservice@bka.gv.at

Press Enquiries for the COSAC Plenary Meeting
press-eu2018@parlament.gv.at

Details on the programme of the COSAC Plenary Meeting can be found at www.eu2018parl.at.

More information about the event can be found on the event page.