What happened at the LXXII COSAC: A Recap of the Plenary Meeting, 27-29 October 2024, Budapest

The European Parliament was represented by a six-Member Delegation led by Mr Esteban González Pons (EPP/ES), Vice-President responsible for relations with national Parliaments and COSAC, and Mr Sven Simon (EPP/DE), Chair of the AFCO Committee, and comprising Ms Romana Tomc (EPP/SL), Mr Loránt Vincze (EPP/RO), Mr Ernö Schaller-Baross (Patriots/HU), and Ms Elena Donazzan (ECR/IT).

In Session I, parliamentarians discussed the programme and results of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It began with a keynote speech by Mr János Bóka, Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs. During the debate, focused on the EU's economic competitiveness, numerous interventions mentioned the mounting challenges faced by the EU, as highlighted in the Draghi Report. They noted the consensus around the EU's declining position, particularly compared to the United States and China. Also, while the green transition promised substantial environmental benefits as well as the creation of "green jobs", this transition remained threatened by high energy costs. They also called for more investment in R&D, streamlined regulations, a revitalised trade policy, and a stronger single market, reducing administrative burdens that hinder economic agility.

The discussion also touched on other the important subjects such as migration and also security and defence. Parliamentarians called for unified efforts in managing migration, including the protection of the EU's external border, and expressed their concerns regarding the increase in border controls inside the Schengen area due to irregular migration. They also called for more robust mechanisms for managing returns and the full extension of the Schengen area to Bulgaria and Romania. On security and defence, there were calls for bolstering the EU's industrial base and deepening integration to address internal and external threats. Parliamentarians expressed broad support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, while some of the speakers criticised the position and actions of Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, which were considered to be undermining EU unity in relation to Ukraine and Georgia.

Session II focused on the state of the European Union in the year of institutional transition and the 15-year application of the Treaty of Lisbon. In addition to a video-message by Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight at the European Commission, there were keynote speeches from Mr. Barna Pál Zsigmond, State Secretary of the Ministry of Union Affairs of Hungary, Mr. Sven Simon, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament and Mr. Alessandro Giglio Vigna, Chairman of the EU Policies Committee, Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. In his speech, Mr Sven Simon advocated for greater use of Article 225 TFEU, and called for the expanded use of this de facto right of initiative to amend and revoke existing legislation. He also stressed the importance of involving national Parliaments in shaping EU legislation and underlined that in the current geopolitical context no single European country can manage the pressing challenges alone.

The debate centred on the rule of law and on sovereignty. Some participants criticised Hungary for its breaches of the rule of law and EU principles, including concerns around judicial independence and media freedom. Other speakers pointed to the excessively centralised EU decision-making processes, and criticised the European institutions while advocating for retaining a greater degree of sovereignty for Member States to address local needs effectively.

Session III was focused on European demographic trends and responses at national and European level, and began with a keynote speech by Ms. Zsófia Koncz, State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation. The debate underscored a shared sense of urgency among parliamentarians, with divergent views regarding the specific policies needed to address the region's demographic decline. Discussions centred on the need for both national and European-level strategies to counter declining birth rates, Europe's aging population, and rural depopulation. A focal point in the discussion was the divergence in national approaches, with some speakers prioritising pro-natalist policies--such as financial support for young couples, improved housing, and work-life balance--over migration as a primary solution for sustainable population growth.

Economic sustainability, given the projected shortage of 40 million workers by 2030, emerged as a key concern, prompting calls for a dual strategy of robust family policies and migration to attract skilled labour. Some speakers highlighted that addressing gender inequality was essential to this effort, including through better work-life balance policies and empowering women in order to boost birth rates. Participants also noted that urban centres offer better services and opportunities for families, while rural regions struggle with depopulation, and called for the EU budget to support vulnerable regions.

The final session dealt with the subject of European security and defence, and included keynote speeches by Mr. Esteban González Pons, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Mr. Péter Sztáray, State Secretary of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Mr González Pons called for a stronger, more unified European Union to safeguard its interests amid competing global powers, advocated for a common European defence strategy and stressed the need for cooperation and preparedness to counter threats and to secure a better future for its citizens.

During the debate parliamentarians addressed the significant geopolitical challenges which Europe faces, and called for increased cooperation and preparedness among Member States to counter both traditional and hybrid threats. Speakers highlighted the importance of a clear political will and a common European defence strategy, complementary to NATO and capable of safeguarding the EU's interests in a volatile geopolitical landscape. Some interventions also highlighted the limited defence spending among EU Member States, with only a third of NATO members meeting the 2% of GDP target - a shortfall exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, which has strained NATO's resources.

Most speakers emphasised the need for EU strategic autonomy, calling for joint defence and technology investments to enhance capabilities and ensure competitiveness. Some called for significant defence funding outside of the EU's financial framework, and highlighted the importance of strengthening the technological and industrial base by supporting SMEs. Overall, there was consensus on the urgency of countering hybrid threats and reinforcing external border protection.

The Contribution and Conclusions of the LXXII COSAC, adopted at the meeting, underscore COSAC's commitment to fostering unity and cooperation in addressing Europe's most pressing challenges.