8 min
Welcome address
Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann (Speaker), Ms Verona Murphy TD
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Concluded
Meeting of the Chairpersons of COSAC
From the Chair
Under Ireland’s Presidency, the COSAC Chairpersons’ Meeting brings together parliamentary leaders from EU Member States, candidate and observer countries and the European Parliament. As we consider Ireland’s Presidency priorities and reflect on how we can strengthen parliamentary cooperation and democratic resilience, our shared commitment to dialogue, accountability and democratic values remains essential.
Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs
Event Details
This was a meeting of the chairpersons of EU affairs committees from the national parliaments of member states and the European Parliament to discuss topical issues on the European agenda and preparations for the LXXVI Plenary Meeting of COSAC, which will take place in Dublin in December 2026.
The Conference of the Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union, or COSAC, is a forum for regular exchange of information and best practices between EU affairs committees of national parliaments and representatives from the European Parliament.
Participants in the conference were from the European Parliament and each of the 39 chambers of the national parliaments in the EU, as well as the parliaments of candidate countries and states with observer status.
Agenda
18:00
Meeting of the Presidential Troika of COSAC
09:00
Welcoming address by Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, Ms Verona Murphy TD
09:10
Opening Session by the Cathaoirleach (Chair) of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, Mr Barry Ward TD
Procedural questions and miscellaneous matters
- Briefing on the Presidential Troika Meeting
- Adoption of the agenda of the Meeting of the Chairpersons of COSAC
- Draft agenda of the LXXVI COSAC Plenary Meeting
- Outline of the 46th Bi-annual Report of COSAC
- Letters received by the Presidency
- Any other business
09:30
Session I: Priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Keynote Address by An Taoiseach, Mr Micheál Martin TD
Debate
11:00
Coffee break and family photo
11:30
Session II: Parliamentary Cooperation and Democratic Resilience in an Uncertain World
Keynote Speakers
- Mr Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, European Commission
- Prof Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor of European Politics, European University Institute
Debate
13:20
Closing Remarks
Mr Barry Ward TD, Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs
Official documents
Access the documents required for delegate preparation, including agenda, background notes and invitation. These documents are archived on the permanent IPEX platform.
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