European Parliament 2019-2024 Conference of Delegation Chairs CPDE_PV(2020)0211_2 MINUTES of the meeting of 11 February 2020, 16.30-18.00 Strasbourg The meeting opened at 16.35 on Tuesday, 11 February 2020, with Inma Rodríguez-Piñero (Chair) presiding. 1. Adoption of draft agenda PE640.589v01-00 The agenda was adopted as shown in these minutes. 2. Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 26 November 2019 (PE 640.587v01-00) The minutes of the meeting of 26 November 2019 were adopted as circulated. 3. Chair’s announcements Inma Rodríguez-Piñero, the Chair, pointed out that, with the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, the composition of Parliament and of a number of standing delegations had changed. As a result, a number of bureau seats had fallen vacant and, under the relevant rules, those vacancies would now have to be filled. The Chair pointed out that the each of the delegations needed to appoint one member responsible for gender equality and diversity, and asked for a candidate who would be able to replace her at meetings of the High-Level Group. The Chair announced the delegations’ missions for February 2020, and recommended that efforts be made to coordinate closely with the relevant parliamentary committees. She also emphasised the need for compliance with internal rules, especially those relating to signing declarations and to relations with the press. She also reminded those present of the deadlines PV\1199947EN.docx PE640.590v02-00 EN United in diversity EN relating to the programme of activities for the second half of 2020. 4. Exchange of views with David McAllister, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on political priorities and cooperation with Parliament’s standing delegations The Chair welcomed David McAllister, the Chair of the AFET Committee, and pointed out that, given the geo-strategic focus of the new Commission, it was most important for the European institutions to maintain a united front and to rely on common sense, intelligence and determination in tackling international challenges. Ms Rodríguez-Piñero emphasised how important it was to step up dialogue and coordination among Parliament’s standing committees and delegations, to set joint objectives and strategies, and to maintain a concerted approach to shore up the EU’s position abroad. She singled out the parliamentary diplomacy that the delegations had developed as one of Parliament’s most important tools in the area of external relations. During the exchange of views, the Chair of AFET called for continued dialogue and cooperation in order to strengthen the synergies between the parliamentary committees and the standing delegations. He went on to emphasise the need to ‘avoid travelling to the same country on or about the same dates’, and to agree on a missions timetable to prevent overlaps. Mr McAllister pointed out that the standing delegations were ‘the face of Parliament, as well as its ears’, and an important tool when it came to stepping up the capabilities for influence and action of the parliamentary committees, which could in turn amplify the political message of the delegations. He emphasised the key role the delegations played in following up the implementation of the EU’s international agreements with third countries and its ability to monitor the implementation of annual and multiannual planning for financial instruments. He warned that certain ‘friendship groups’ and ‘intergroups’ were undermining Parliament’s credibility and called for them to be more transparent and to adhere to Parliament’s official positions. He reiterated that the standing delegations were officially mandated bodies of the European Parliament and that, as such, they created synergies with the activities of the committees. On the other hand, he lauded the election observation efforts and other activities carried out by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG). MEPs pointed out that they were pleased to be invited to the meetings of AFET and other committees, and that they were keen to share their experiences and points of view. The Conference on the Future of Europe was also discussed, along with the possibility of participation on the part of MPs and other interested parties from the candidate countries; a number of the MEPs present supported such an approach, in particular with regard to MPs from the Western Balkans. MEPs also mentioned that it would be a good idea to keep geographical diversity in mind in the composition of the different standing delegations. Speakers: PE640.590v02-00 2/7 PV\1199947EN.docx EN David McAllister, Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET); Inma Rodríguez Piñero, Chair, Conference of Delegation Chairs (CDC); Evelyne Gebhardt, First Vice-Chair, Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China (D-CN); Vladimír Bilčík, Chair, Delegation to the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (D- ME); Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, First Vice-Chair, Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (D-UA); Andrius Kubilius, Chair, Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (DEPA). 5. Other business It was decided that the Chair of DEG would be invited to a forthcoming meeting. 6. Date and place of next meeting The next meeting would be held in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 10 March 2020 at 16.30. The meeting closed at 17.40. PV\1199947EN.docx 3/7 PE640.590v02-00 EN ПРИСЪСТВЕН ЛИСТ/LISTA DE ASISTENCIA/PREZENČNÍ LISTINA/DELTAGERLISTE/ ANWESENHEITSLISTE/KOHALOLIJATE NIMEKIRI/ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΑΡΟΝΤΩΝ/RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/ LISTE DE PRÉSENCE/POPIS NAZOČNIH/ELENCO DI PRESENZA/APMEKLĒJUMU REĢISTRS/DALYVIŲ SĄRAŠAS/ JELENLÉTI ÍV/REĠISTRU TA' ATTENDENZA/PRESENTIELIJST/LISTA OBECNOŚCI/LISTA DE PRESENÇAS/ LISTĂ DE PREZENŢĂ/PREZENČNÁ LISTINA/SEZNAM NAVZOČIH/LÄSNÄOLOLISTA/NÄRVAROLISTA Бюро/Mesa/Předsednictvo/Formandskabet/Vorstand/Juhatus/Προεδρείο/Bureau/Predsjedništvo/Ufficio di presidenza/Prezidijs/ Biuras/Elnökség/Prezydium/Birou/Predsedníctvo/Predsedstvo/Puheenjohtajisto/Presidiet (*) Inma Rodríguez-Piñero (P) Членове/Diputados/Poslanci/Medlemmer/Mitglieder/Parlamendiliikmed/Βουλευτές/Members/Députés/Zastupnici/Deputati/Deputāti/ Nariai/Képviselõk/Membri/Leden/Posłowie/Deputados/Deputaţi/Jäsenet/Ledamöter Stéphane Bijoux, Vladimír Bilčík, Tanja Fajon, Manolis Kefalogiannis, Andrius Kubilius, Javi López, Ulrike Müller, Kris Peeters, Isabel Santos, Andreas Schieder, Radosław Sikorski, Massimiliano Smeriglio, Carlos Zorrinho, Pilar del Castillo Vera Exused: Magdalena Adamowicz, Robert Biedroń, Reinhard Bütikofer, Romeo Franz, Sergey Lagodinsky, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Andreas Schwab, Witold Jan Waszczykowski Заместници/Suplentes/Náhradníci/Stedfortrædere/Stellvertreter/Asendusliikmed/Αναπληρωτές/Substitutes/Suppléants/Zamjenici/ Supplenti/Aizstājēji/Pavaduojantysnariai/Póttagok/Sostituti/Plaatsvervangers/Zastępcy/Membros suplentes/Supleanţi/Náhradníci/ Namestniki/Varajäsenet/Suppleanter Evelyne Gebhardt (for Reinhard Bütikofer), Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel (for Witold Jan Waszczykowski) 209 (7) 216 (3) 56 (8) (Точка от дневния ред/Punto del orden del día/Bod pořadu jednání (OJ)/Punkt på dagsordenen/Tagesordnungspunkt/ Päevakorra punkt/Σημείο της ημερήσιας διάταξης/Agenda item/Point OJ/Točka dnevnog reda/Punto all'ordine del giorno/Darba kārtības punkts/Darbotvarkės punktas/Napirendi pont/Punt Aġenda/Agendapunt/Punkt porządku dziennego/Ponto OD/Punct de pe ordinea de zi/Bod programu schôdze/Točka UL/Esityslistan kohta/Punkt på föredragningslistan) PE640.590v02-00 4/7 PV\1199947EN.docx EN Наблюдатели/Observadores/Pozorovatelé/Observatører/Beobachter/Vaatlejad/Παρατηρητές/Observers/Observateurs/Promatrači/ Osservatori/Novērotāji/Stebėtojai/Megfigyelők/Osservaturi/Waarnemers/Obserwatorzy/Observadores/Observatori/Pozorovatelia/ Opazovalci/Tarkkailijat/Observatörer По покана на председателя/Por invitación del presidente/Na pozvání předsedy/Efter indbydelse fra formanden/Auf Einladung des Vorsitzenden/Esimehe kutsel/Με πρόσκληση του Προέδρου/At the invitation of the Chair/Sur l'invitation du président/ Na poziv predsjednika/Su invito del presidente/Pēc priekšsēdētāja uzaicinājuma/Pirmininkui pakvietus/Az elnök meghívására/ Fuq stedina taċ-'Chairman'/Op uitnodiging van de voorzitter/Na zaproszenie Przewodniczącego/A convite do Presidente/La invitaţia preşedintelui/ Na pozvanie predsedu/Na povabilo predsednika/Puheenjohtajan kutsusta/På ordförandens inbjudan David McAllister (AFET chair) Съвет/Consejo/Rada/Rådet/Rat/Nõukogu/Συμβούλιο/Council/Conseil/Vijeće/Consiglio/Padome/Taryba/Tanács/Kunsill/Raad/ Conselho/Consiliu/Svet/Neuvosto/Rådet (*) Комисия/Comisión/Komise/Kommissionen/Kommission/Komisjon/Επιτροπή/Commission/Komisija/Commissione/Bizottság/ Kummissjoni/Commissie/Komisja/Comissão/Comisie/Komisia/Komissio/Kommissionen (*) Европейска служба за външна дейност/Servicio Europeo de Acción Exterior/Evropská služba pro vnější činnost/ EU-Udenrigstjenesten/Europäischer Auswärtiger Dienst/Euroopa välisteenistus/Ευρωπαϊκή Υπηρεσία Εξωτερικής Δράσης/European External Action service/Service européen pour l'action extérieure/Europska služba za vanjsko djelovanje/Servizio europeo per l’azione esterna/Eiropas Ārējās darbības dienests/Europos išorės veiksmų tarnyba/Európai Külügyi Szolgálat/Servizz Ewropew għall-Azzjoni Esterna/Europese dienst voor extern optreden/Europejska Służba Działań Zewnętrznych/Serviço Europeu para a Acção Externa/ Serviciul european pentru acţiune externă/Európska služba pre vonkajšiu činnosť/Evropska služba za zunanje delovanje/Euroopan ulkosuhdehallinto/Europeiska