The meeting was opened by the Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament Istvan Jakab, while the priorities of the Hungarian presidency were presented by the Minister for EU Affairs Janos Boka. The COSAC meeting in Budapest brought together the chairpersons of the committees for European affairs of the parliaments of the EU member states, parliaments of the candidate countries and the parliaments of potential candidates for EU membership.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the European Integration Committee Elvira Kovacs pointed out that one of the seven priorities of Hungary's presidency is a consistent enlargement policy based on merit. She said that the Hungarian Presidency rated the enlargement policy as one of the EU’s most successful policies, stressing that it is crucial that the enlargement policy remains merit-based. She pointed out that the European Union has long been engaged in providing a European perspective for the Western Balkans, because the community cannot be complete without the accession of this region, as well as that the integration of the region benefits the EU in economic, security and geopolitical terms. She said that EU enlargement remains a top priority, and changing its dynamics means that it is the responsibility of both the EU and the candidate countries to take advantage of this opportunity. She stressed that Serbia will speed up reforms towards EU accession, highlighting the new momentum for enlargement. She said that we will continue to work on finalising the reform agenda, as well as key reforms, such as the implementation of media laws and electoral reforms. She said that Serbia's entry into the European Union does not only mean meeting the negotiating clusters criteria and aligning with EU legislation, but, above all, it aims to improve the living conditions of all our citizens, which is a priority of the entire leadership of the Republic of Serbia. She concluded that, more than ever, the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans represents an investment in peace, prosperity and long-term security on the European continent.

The second session, in which the participants discussed the future and the state of play of the negotiations for EU membership by candidates from the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, was opened by European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi.

In her speech, Kovacs pointed out that at this moment the opening of new negotiation chapters is not an issue for Serbia. She said that we are aware of the current geopolitical situation in Europe and that in the circumstances of the war in Ukraine, we are trying to redirect the EU to the Western Balkans. She pointed out that Serbia's progress in reform processes is underestimated. She stressed that the process of European integration is two-way and that its pace depends on Serbia, as well as on the EU itself, and pointed out that the fact is that the EU often did not have understanding for Serbia's views. She said that Serbia as a political community is incomplete without the European dimension, just as the project of a united Europe will remain incomplete without its Balkan dimension.

Speaking in the second session, Radin pointed out that he was glad that the merit-based expansion policy is back in focus, adding that he hopes that this means that the opening of Cluster 3 will follow very soon, which Serbia is ready for and for which it has had the support of the European Commission for three years. He also pointed out that even after 11 years, the Community of Serb Municipalities has not been established and that it, for which the European Union is the guarantor, can represent the only barrier to the creeping ethnic cleansing that is currently being carried out in the AP of Kosovo-Metohija.

The COSAC Plenary within the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU will be held from 27 to 29 October 2024 in Budapest.