Between 28 and 30 May 2017, Speaker of
the House of Representatives Angelo Farrugia chaired the LVII COSAC. This is the sixth and final meeting falling
within the parliamentary dimension of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of
the European Union organised by the Maltese Parliament,
running between January and June 2017.
In view of the dissolution of Parliament on 1 May 2017, and as per relevant
Constitutional provisions, Members of Parliament, with the exception of the
Speaker of the House who remains in office until the first sitting of the new
Parliament, effectively lose their seat. Speaker Angelo Farrugia
is thus presiding over the three-day programme in the stead of the Chairman of
the Foreign and European Affairs Committee.
The topics for discussion will address the progress registered by the Maltese
Presidency of the Council in respect of its priorities for the six months, the
role of national Parliaments in the future of the EU, the outcome of the UK
referendum, the Blue Economy, and migration.
Keynote speakers addressing the meeting include Maltese Foreign Affairs
Minister George Vella, First Vice-President of the European Commission Mr Frans
Timmermans, European Commissioner responsible for Migration,
Home
Affairs
and Citizenship
Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner for the Environment,
Maritime
Affairs
and Fisheries
Mr Karmenu Vella,
and Chief Negotiator for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with
the United Kingdom Mr Michel Barnier.
The Plenary meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union
Affairs of the Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) brings together
chairpersons and members of the European affairs committees of national
Parliaments of the European Union and observer countries, and members of the
European Parliament. COSAC is the forum for national Parliaments to exchange
best practices and information on their role and relationship with the European
Union and European Institutions.