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Mr. Vladimír Šeks, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament,
at the II Western Balkans COSAP Meeting held in Zagreb
on 5-6 March 2006
Source: Croatian Parliament

As regularly highlighted by SEE Parliamentarians, a clear and uncontested perspective of full membership in the EU represents the most needed and the most effective incentive to pursuing and accomplishing reforms in SEE countries, thus promoting regional cooperation and granting regional stability and internal democratic, economic and social development.[1]

To this end, the European Integration Parliamentary Committees of States participating to the Stabilisation and Association Process, namely Croatia,    Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro gathered together in Sarajevo on 16-18 June 2005 to establish the Western Balkans COSAP as a tool to promote fundamental internal reforms through the common pursuit of EU integration[2].

The cooperation between the Committees of national Parliaments dealing with European Affairs is not a novelty in the European Union itself as indeed member Parliaments and the European Parliament gather twice a year in a framework called COSAC.

In the aftermath of the Thessaloniki Summit held in 2003 and beyond, the EU membership perspective has been granted to all countries of the South East Europe once they individually meet the accession criteria. Since the Western Balkans COSAP establishment, considerable progress has been achieved. FYROM has been granted candidate status, Croatia has started accession negotiations, Albania has initialled the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Serbia have started their respective negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreements, the content of the European Partnership with Montenegro has been defined.

The Parliaments of the region could therefore benefit from the exchange of experiences and best practices on EU-related matters, along the COSAC example, as it will help them prepare fully integrate the COSAC itself in due time.

Work method

According to the Western Balkans COSAP Rules of Procedure, adopted at its first meeting held in Sarajevo in 2005, the Conference has a rotating Chairmanship, held in alphabetical order by the Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs of the presiding country, and meets at least twice a year to discuss issues related to the Stabilisation and Association Process and to the EU enlargement. The meetings, multilateral in nature, are usually scheduled taking into consideration also the COSAC meetings calendar and are organized and hosted by the presiding country. A troika composed by the Chairs of Committees for European Affairs/integration of the previous, current and future presidency ensures coordination of activities.

Contributions are not binding, unless all SAP Parliaments agree. However, the Committees for European Affairs have to regularly inform the respective Parliaments on the contributions and initiatives undertaken at the meetings and have to seek for their support.

Past activities

So far the Western Balkans COSAP have met three times.

As mentioned, the first meeting, held in Sarajevo on 16-18 June 2005, marked the establishment of the Conference itself. On this occasion participants confirmed their readiness in promoting and performing the EU based reforms. At the same time they auspicated that the EU would afford its internal debate linked to the EU Constitutional Treaty, the financial perspectives and the absorption capacity of new member states in parallel to a timely enlargement process. In this regard they recalled that the fifth enlargement round has been successfully pursued and completed in parallel to the debate within the Constitutional Convention.[3]Moreover, they argued that the continuation of the enlargement process in a challenging framework not only would send a strong signal of the EU cohesive forces and attraction power even in turbulent times, but would also further encourage SEE politicians and the people in continuing   their efforts towards the achievement of democratic stability and economic development.[4]

The second meeting, held in Zagreb on 5-6 March 2006, focussed on the role and functioning of this regional forum and on the cooperation between the SAP National Parliaments and the European Parliament through the activities of the joint Parliamentary Committees.

First, participants noted that the continuation of the EU enlargement process needs allocation of adequate financial resources in order to support the SAP countries in their efforts towards meeting the accession criteria. In this regard, they expressed concerns for the EU financial perspective 2007-2013, which does not seem to address sufficiently the development and harmonisation needs of the SAP countries.[5]

On another note, participants identified an intensified cooperation between COSAC and COSAP as a key component for the strengthening of the role of National Parliaments, especially the European Integration Committees, in the framework of the overall activities aimed towards the integration of countries of South East Europe into the EU.

Indeed the COSAP called for the establishment of regular dialogue and meetings with COSAC, including the issues of the future of Europe and developing common strategy on communicating the enlargement policy to citizens.

The co-operation of the SAP Parliaments with the European Parliament through activities of the Joint Parliamentary Committees was assessed as a highly valuable part of an institutional dialogue for the continuous evaluation and scrutiny of the bilateral relations of each SAP country with the EU.

Participants exchanged information on their political and economic situation and on the pace of their EU oriented reforms. Further priorities to work on were identified in the liberalisation of visa regime, the further strengthening of trade liberalisation in the region through an enlarged and modified CEFTA agreement and a strengthened regional cooperation.

The third meeting took place in Skopje on 13-14 December 2006 and focused on the EU enlargement process and the integration capacity, with a particular   reference to   the Progress Reports and the Strategic document on EU enlargement[6] and on the approaches and mechanisms for a better use of the IPA Pre-Accession instrument. Moreover, the role of the national Parliaments and of the Parliamentary Committees for European Affairs in bringing closer EU and the European values to the citizens was discussed.

Participants supported the concept that future enlargements should be realized based on the established criteria, and that each country should be assessed individually, according to its own merits. Such an approachwill lead to an intensification of the reform processes, including the strengthening of democratic and institutional capacity[7] in the SAP countries, which will allow them to prepare better the fulfilment oftheir obligations.[8]

An increased dialogue, mutual cooperation and support should also be encouraged between the SAP Parliamentarians and the members of the European Parliament, in order to promote the establishment of a sound rule of law and an effective combat against corruption and other forms of organized crime.

At the end, participants welcomed the transition process initiated by the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe towards the establishment of a Regional Cooperation Council and fully supported the initiatives undertaken towards the establishment of a Regional Secretariat/focal point for Parliamentary Cooperation as a tool which will ensure further development of regional Parliamentary cooperation.

Related documents:

Joint statement adopted at the first meeting of the European Affairs/Integration Parliamentary Committees of the countries participating to the Stabilisation and Association Process held in Sarajevo on 16-18 June 2005

Joint statement adopted at the second meeting of the European Affairs/Integration Parliamentary Committees of the countries participating to the Stabilisation and Association Process held in Zagreb on 5-6 March 2006

Programme of the third Western Balkans COSAP meeting

Joint statement adopted at the third meeting of the European Affairs/Integration Parliamentary Committees of the countries participating to the Stabilisation and Association Process held in Skopje on 13-14 December 2006

EC: Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2006-2007

EC: The Western Balkans on the road to the EU: consolidating stability and raising prosperity

[1]Joint Statement of the first meeting of the Conference of European Integration Parliamentary Committees of States participating to the Stabilization and Association Process of South East Europe, held in Sarajevo on 16-18 June 2005.

[2]The Assembly of Kosovo, as defined by the UNSC Resolution 1244, along with the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the European Parliament and representatives from the EU relevant Presidencies attend as observers.

[3]Joint Statement of the first Conference of European Affairs/Integration Parliamentary Committees of the States participating to the Stabilisation and Association Process held in Sarajevo on 16-18 June 2005.

[4]In the statement the Parliaments pledged also for an immediate access to the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) funds, in order to foster the necessary reforms.

[5]    Joint Statement of the second Conference of the European Affairs/Integration Parliamentary Committees of the countries participating to the Stabilisation and Association process held in Zagreb on 5-6 March 2006.

[6]European Commission (2006) “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council- Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2006 – 2007, including annexed special report on the EU's capacity to integrate new members”, COM (2006)649, Brussels 8 November 2006

[7]In order to develop administrative capacities and promote cooperation with relevant EU institutions, participants highlighted the importance to establish a Regional School of Administration.

[8]Joint statement adopted at the third meeting of the European Affairs/Integration Parliamentary Committees of the countries participating to the Stabilisation and Association Process held in Skopje on 13-14 December 2006.