Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of The European Union - History and Role

History and Role

Further information: National parliaments of the European Union

COSAC was founded in 1989 on a proposal of Laurent Fabius, then President of the French National Assembly and at the same time an MEP on the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee. It meets twice a year in the member state that holds the rotating EU Presidency.

The conference is mainly intended for personal contacts between Members of National Parliaments and MEPs, and for exchanges of information. The conference is therefore interested in the means by which the parliaments are able to co-operate and communicate with each other via interparliamentary meetings, and through the IPEX scrutiny website. The 17 Biannual COSAC report from the most recent plenary meeting (22-24 April 2012) focused on recent developments in parliamentary scrutiny and the parliaments' use of IPEX.

COSAC may also adopt contributions addressed to the EU institutions. COSAC has gained the right to submit contributions and examine proposals on EU law relating to Justice and Home Affairs and will see its role expand under the Treaty of Lisbon with provisions for increased involvement of national parliaments in EU affairs.