Prague, 12/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Opening the 41st COSAC (Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union), the new Czech prime minister and president-in-office of the European Council, Jan Fischer, said it was his first speech since his appointment last Friday. He seized the opportunity to state that he would do everything possible in his capacity at the head of the government to “ensure Czech EU Presidency continues until its term of office expires on 30 June”. Two main discussion themes had been chosen for Monday, the first of two COSAC discussion days. These were: - recovery from the current economic and financial situation, and the European Commission's annual policy strategy for 2010.
Speaking as a single voice, both Czech finance ministers - Eduard Janota, who has held office since Friday, and Miroslav Kalousek, who resigned that same day - said the fight to address the economic crisis has become one of the priorities of the Czech Presidency. They placed emphasis on tax measures and on the European economic recovery strategy which “must be founded on common negotiation”, “the main element for shortening and attenuating recession in Europe being the internal market”. In June, the European Council will adopt the first decisions for strengthening regulation and surveillance of the European financial sector, on the basis of the Commission's proposals further to in-depth examination of the de Larosière report. COSAC, for its part, recognised in its contribution project that, with this crisis, the EU is “faced with one of the greatest challenges of our history” but that “the crisis has affected each of the member states in a different way”. As a result, “COSAC considers it important to take their specific situations into consideration (…) and is delighted by the solidarity of action shown to the member states the most affected”. Finally, COSAC “warns against all forms of economic protectionism (…) and reasserts, in this context, that economic slowdown must not mean that the EU reviews its ambitions downwards when it comes to sustainable development and climate strategy as adopted by the European Council”. On this point, Jan Fischer sought to be reassuring, saying that climate change will remain a priority until the last day of the Czech EU Presidency.
The Czech European commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, Vladimir Špidla, then presented the Commission's annual policy strategy for 2010. He considered the strategy “special for two reasons: - it must ensure continuity after the Commission has been renewed and take into account the possibility that the Lisbon Treaty will take effect”. According to Špidla, the priorities for 2010 will be “economic recovery, the environment, climate and energy as well as better governance of internal and external security”. In the field of economic and social recovery, the main priority will be to ensure “continuation of the European economic recovery plan and structural reforms in the context of the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment”. For the climate change and sustainable development chapter, the objective is to conclude a new international agreement in Copenhagen next December, he said, underlining the fact that the EU has “taken unilateral commitments in the fight against climate change, in the form of the climate/energy package whose implementation is the main priority for 2010”.
The “Citizens First” chapter includes subjects and measures directly concerning the status and quality of the lives of citizens in the fields of freedom, security, justice, legal cooperation in civil and criminal matters (Ed: announced as one of the priorities of the Swedish EU Presidency), the protection of fundamental rights and of the most vulnerable (children), progress in the surveillance of borders (Eurosur), gender equality and improvement of the situation of persons with disabilities. Action in the field of external relations remains considerably affected by the possibility of entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (Ed: which provides for the creation of a European External Action Service). Nonetheless, among the 2010 priorities, there is also acceleration of the stabilisation and association process for the Western Balkans, completion of the reunification process for Cyprus, consolidation of bilateral relations mainly with Israel, Moldova, Morocco and Ukraine, and the hope of reaching a new agreement with Russia.
COSAC reiterates its intention to hold regular discussions on the European Commission's annual policy strategy which represents a primary source of information for effective parliamentary control, and expects the next Commission to pursue the existing political dialogue with national parliaments, known as the “Barroso initiative”.
Finally, Vaclav Havel delivered a message to the COSAC participants. In a filmed speech, the former president of the Czech Republic, who is currently unwell, pointed out the “importance of human rights which, in these difficult times, must remain more important than interests related to economic transactions”. The second day of COSAC, on Tuesday, was essentially devoted to the EU's eastern partnerships, a theme dear to the Czech Presidency. EUROPE will come back to this. (P.B./transl.jl)