On the role of the European Parliament and its parliamentary diplomacy in the EU’s foreign and security policy
AFET-PR-753617
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Jordi Solé
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This is a draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the role of Parliament and its parliamentary diplomacy in EU foreign and security policy. It welcomes Parliament's growing external role and asks the Commission, Council and member states to involve Parliament more in foreign affairs.¶¶¶ It calls for stronger interinstitutional relations with the EEAS and the Commission, more oversight and transparency, and Parliament's right to information on CFSP matters under Article 36 TEU.¶¶¶ It highlights the work of committees, standing delegations, election observation, democracy support and conflict prevention, and asks EU delegations to publicise Parliament's work.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament welcome its growing external role, call for stronger interinstitutional relations with the EEAS and the Commission, and demand greater involvement, oversight and transparency in EU foreign and security policy.¶¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes Parliament's growing role in EU external action, combining legislative, budgetary and scrutiny powers with engagement with non-EU countries.¶
- Regrets that Parliament is not fully recognised by the Commission, the Council and the EEAS as an integral player in the 'Team Europe' approach.¶
- Believes great untapped potential exists for Parliament to further develop its diplomatic role and contribution to EU foreign policy objectives.¶
- Highlights the contribution of committees working on external affairs and of standing delegations, which provide a forum for political dialogue with non-EU countries.¶¶¶
- Considers Parliament's official missions outside the EU an integral part of EU external policy, which must enjoy the full support of EU delegations.¶
- Stresses Parliament's dedication to human rights and democracy, its democracy support programmes, and its role in helping partner and enlargement countries.¶¶¶
- Believes the next parliamentary term and future Commission should strengthen interinstitutional relations between Parliament, the EEAS and the Commission, including EU delegations.¶
- Calls for reinforced Parliament oversight of EU foreign and security policy activities through greater accountability and transparency of the EEAS and the Commission's external services.¶
- Calls on the Commission, the Council and member states to involve Parliament in implementation and scrutiny of strategic foreign affairs matters and external financing instruments.¶
- Insists on Parliament's right to information on CFSP matters under Article 36 TEU and stresses finalising the update of the 2002 Interinstitutional Agreement on access to sensitive information.¶
- Insists that key strategic policy documents by the Commission and the Council integrate Parliament's role, and calls for stronger relations with national parliaments and sub-state entities.¶¶¶
- Reiterates its call to enhance EU capacities for conflict prevention and mediation, and urges each EU delegation to publicise Parliament's work and follow up with local actors.¶¶
Who is affected
- The Commission, the Council and the EEAS, which are asked to recognise and involve Parliament more in EU foreign policy.¶¶
- EU delegations, which must support Parliament's official missions and publicise its work in host countries.¶¶
- Member states and their national parliaments, which are called on to involve Parliament and strengthen relations.¶¶
- Partner and enlargement countries, which Parliament helps to strengthen their role in the EU accession process.¶
Figures and deadlines
Legal basis: Articles 14(1) and 36 of the Treaty on European Union¶