The President of the Senate, Pietro Grasso, will open the 52nd plenary meeting of COSAC - the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of the Parliaments of the European Union - on Monday 1st December next. The meeting, starting at 9.00, will be held in the Senate Plenary Hall.

The Conference is the only interparliamentary cooperation forum specifically provided for by EU Treaties and has its own Rules of Procedure. Its task is to ensure a regular exchange of information, good practices and views on EU-related matters between the European Affairs Committees of national Parliaments and the European Parliament.

This is the seventh meeting taking place in Rome, and the fourth held at the Senate, in the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

On Monday morning, after the welcome address by the President of the Senate, addresses will be delivered by the Chairpersons of the Committees on EU Policies of the Senate, Sen. Vannino Chiti, and of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr Michele Bordo. These will be followed by keynote speeches by the Under-Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs, Sandro Gozi, and the first Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans. During the afternoon session, starting at 15.00, a debate will take place on the topic "Review of the Europe 2020 Strategy: growth, employment, competitiveness", featuring an address by the Economy and Finance Minister, Pier Carlo Padoan.

On Tuesday morning, starting at 9.30, the focus will be on the role of the European Union in the global scenario and the democratic control of European agencies. Keynote speeches will be delivered by, among others, Senator Claudio Martini and the Under-Secretary of State Sandro Gozi.
At the conclusion of the Conference, the Conclusions and the Contribution of the 52nd COSAC will be adopted. The Contribution will be published on the Official Journal of the European Union.

The conference proceedings will be broadcast live on the Senate satellite channel, web TV and YouTube channel. A detailed programme and additional information are available on ue2014.parlamento.it

Note for media organisations

Accreditation requests for reporters, photographers and radio/TV operators should be faxed to 06.6706.2947 or e-mailed to accrediti.stampa@senato.it. Applications for reporters should include information on the media organisation they represent and the number of their Ordine dei giornalisti or Associazione stampa estera ID card. Applications for photographers and radio/TV operators should include name, place and date of birth and ID card number.