Glenn Bedingfield and Beppe Fenech Adami are participating in the LXX Conference of European Affairs Committee of National Parliaments (COSAC) being held in Madrid between November 26 and 28 as part of the parliamentary dimension of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The conference is dealing with a number of topics that are currently high on the EU agenda, namely the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, migration, the energy crisis and the green transition, the situation in Ukraine, and the EU’s open strategic autonomy, with particular focus on relations with Latin America.
Glenn Bedingfield made an intervention during the first session, referring to the request he made to the Spanish Presidency to include an item on the current Middle East crisis in the agenda of the COSAC plenary. He stressed that it would have been better had such a topic been given adequate space for discussion given the dramatic events that are happening at this very moment in the Middle East. He stated that the EU and the international community should give more attention to the role that states like Iran, although not directly involved in the war, are playing in the background.
Beppe Fenech Adami made an intervention during the session on migration, stating that Europe today stands at a crossroads and that Malta, together with other European states, is at the forefront of this challenge. He stressed that an agreement on migration is imperative for the stability and integrity of the European Union. Europe requires a pact that balances responsibilities and solidarity among member states; therefore, a comprehensive approach is crucial. He continued by saying that a migration pact should encompass coordinated border management, harmonized asylum systems, and a robust framework for legal migration. It should also address the root causes of migration and strengthen partnerships with countries of origin and transit. He referred to the situation in Malta, which is a reminder of the consequences of fragmented responses. He concluded by stating that Malta’s disproportionate burden in rescuing and hosting migrants highlights the need for equitable burden sharing.
COSAC, established in 1989, enables a regular exchange of information and best practices between committees of national parliaments and representatives from the European Parliament. The Conference may submit any contribution for the attention of the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission.
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