Prezentacja

DCAS (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)

The European Parliament has one delegation to strengthen relations with elected representatives from Mongolia and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan).

The "Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan, EU-Uzbekistan and EU-Tajikistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and for relations with Turkmenistan and Mongolia" (abbreviated as DCAS) focuses on the heart of Asia, which plays a strategic role in the stability and development of the entire continent.

At the crossroads of different routes - political, cultural and commercial - these republics share a Soviet legacy, while also maintaining their own rich, local traditions. Europe's influence is clear, but the countries' prominent neighbours - Russia, China and India - also hold great sway in the region.

Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and inter-parliamentary meetings

As the full name of the delegation indicates, different forums bring together MEPS and their Central Asian and Mongolian counterparts.

In the case of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, "Parliamentary Cooperation Committees" have been established to join the delegations of parliamentarians. These committees were established after the EU signed "Partnership and Cooperation Agreements" with the four countries.

Mongolia and Turkmenistan have not yet signed such agreements with the EU. As a result, members of the DCAS delegation meet Mongolian and Turkmen legislators in less formal "inter-parliamentary meetings".

Whatever the form of these forums, none of these meetings is ever unidirectional. The European side wishes to better understand the peculiar political and social dynamics of Central Asia and Mongolia, while delegations from the six countries also increasingly probe the challenges faced by the EU.

Delegation work

In addition to planning and participating in these inter-parliamentary meetings and Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, the DCAS delegation meets on its own in Brussels and Strasbourg.

These meetings sometimes address administrative matters, such as the election of the delegation's chair or vice-chairs, or preparation for trips to Central Asia and Mongolia and meetings with partner delegations.

The meetings also serve as a forum to discuss issues in the bilateral relationships and in the six countries. Outside experts often attend the meetings and exchange views with the delegation members. Recent meetings, for example, have included contributions from:
  • Terhi Hakala, EU Special Representative for Central Asia,
  • Central Asian ambassadors to the European Union,
  • senior staff from the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS),
  • rapporteurs from the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET).
Composition

The DCAS Delegation counts 19 full members, supported by a strong cohort of substitute members. All members are drawn from the European Parliament's political groups, with the political makeup of the delegation mirroring that of Parliament as a whole.

The Chair of the Delegation is Mr Fulvio Martusciello (EPP, IT). He is supported by two Vice-Chairs: Mr Andris Ameriks (S&D, LV) and Ms Atidzhe Alieva-Veli (Renew Europe Group, BG).

The Chair and Vice-Chairs are elected by other the members of the delegation.

Article 270 of the EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

ENHANCED PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT
between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Kazakhstan, of the other part

Article 270

Parliamentary Cooperation Committee

1. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee is hereby established. It shall consist of Members of the European Parliament, on the one hand, and of Members of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the other, and shall be a forum for them to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals which it shall itself determine.

2. The activity of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall aim to develop mutually beneficial and effective parliamentary cooperation between the European Parliament and the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

3. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

4. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be presided over alternately by the European Parliament and the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.

5. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may request information regarding the implementation of this Agreement from the Cooperation Council, which shall then supply the Committee with the requested information.

6. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be informed of the decisions and recommendations of the Cooperation Council.

7. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may make recommendations to the Cooperation Council.

Articles 80-82 of the EU-Kyrgyzstan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT
establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kyrgyz Republic, of the other part

Article 80

A Parliamentary Cooperation Committee is hereby established. It shall be a forum for Members of the Kyrgyz Parliament and the European Parliament to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals which it shall itself determine.

Article 81

1. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall consist of members of the European Parliament, on the one hand, and of members of the Kyrgyz Parliament, on the other.

2. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

3. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be presided in turn by the European Parliament and the Kyrgyz Parliament respectively, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.

Article 82

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may request relevant information regarding the implementation of this Agreement from the Cooperation Council, which shall then supply the Committee with the requested information.

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be informed of the recommendations of the Cooperation Council.

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may make recommendations to the Cooperation Council.

Articles 82-84 of the EU-Tajikistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT
establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tajikistan, of the other part

Article 82

A Parliamentary Cooperation Committee is hereby established. It shall be a forum for members of the Tajik Parliament and the European Parliament to meet and exchange views, including on matters concerning political dialogue at parliamentary level. It shall meet at intervals which it shall itself determine.

Article 83

1. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall consist of members of the European Parliament, on the one hand, and of members of the Tajik Parliament, on the other.

2. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

3. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be pre­ sided in turn by the European Parliament and the Tajik Parliament respectively, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.

Article 84

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may request relevant information regarding the implementation of this Agreement from the Cooperation Council, which shall then supply the Com­ mittee with the requested information.

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be informed of the recommendations of the Cooperation Council.

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may make recom­ mendations to the Cooperation Council.

Articles 83-85 of the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT
establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part

Article 83


A Parliamentary Cooperation Committee is hereby established. It shall be a forum for Members of the Uzbek Parliament and the European Parliament to meet and exchange views. It shall meet at intervals which it shall itself determine.

Article 84

1. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall consist of Members of the European Parliament, on the one hand, and of Members of the Uzbek Parliament, on the other.

2. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

3. The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be presided in turn by the European Parliament and the Uzbek Parliament respectively, in accordance with the provisions to be laid down in its rules of procedure.

Article 85

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may request relevant information regarding the implementation of this Agreement from the Cooperation Council, which shall then supply the Committee with the requested information.

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee shall be informed of the recommendations of the Cooperation Council.

The Parliamentary Cooperation Committee may make recommendations to the Cooperation Council.