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Adopted text

Role of the European Parliament and its parliamentary diplomacy in the EU’s foreign and security policy

TA-9-2024-0013 · P9_TA(2024)0013 · PE753.617

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Parliament's resolution sets out its role in EU foreign and security policy through parliamentary diplomacy. It asks for fuller recognition as a player in the 'Team Europe' approach and for stronger oversight of the EEAS and the Commission's external services. It calls for timely information on CFSP matters under Article 36 TEU, an update of the 2010 Declaration on Political Accountability and of the 2002 Interinstitutional Agreement on access to sensitive information. It wants Parliament involved in scrutiny of restrictive measures and external financing, and consultation on key strategic policy documents. It says EU ambassadors in strategic countries and EU special representatives should be confirmed only after a positive evaluation by its Committee on Foreign Affairs. It proposes an interinstitutional 'Team Europe' pilot programme in selected non-EU countries, an interinstitutional task force on human rights defenders, and an annual list of focus countries of serious concern. It denounces bans on Parliament delegations and individual MEPs entering some countries and threats and sanctions against MEPs, and insists the Council and member states act immediately, including sanctions if deemed necessary.

Key points

  1. Welcomes Parliament's growing role in EU external action, combining legislative, budgetary and scrutiny powers with public and silent engagement with international organisations, countries, societies and individuals outside the EU.
  2. Regrets that Parliament has yet to be fully recognised by the Commission, the Council and the EEAS as an integral player within the 'Team Europe' approach, and sees untapped potential for its diplomatic role.
  3. Says official missions outside the EU are part of EU external policy and must have full support from EU delegations and the highest level of information and security from the EEAS; calls for resources for the EEAS Crisis Response Centre.
  4. Suggests internal coordination by Parliament bodies, including periodic lists of priority countries, joint exchanges of views and synergies between missions abroad to avoid duplication.
  5. Calls for better visibility for Parliament's debates and resolutions on human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and for findings from election observation and democracy support to be integrated into committee, delegation and plenary work.
  6. Calls for strengthened coordination with the Commission in supporting parliamentary democracy worldwide, and suggests the network with national parliaments on democracy support become a regular institutional venue.
  7. Stresses the need for gender balance in all activities and missions outside the EU and for deploying experts on gender equality in parliamentary assistance actions and programmes.
  8. Calls for reinforced oversight of EU foreign and security policy by enhancing accountability and transparency of the EEAS and the Commission's external services, and for updating the 2010 Declaration on Political Accountability.
  9. Calls on the Commission, the Council and member states to involve Parliament in implementation and scrutiny of strategic foreign affairs matters, including restrictive measures and external financing instruments.
  10. Insists on Parliament's right to information on CFSP matters under Article 36 TEU, including timely access to reports, country strategies and confidential information, and on finalising the update of the 2002 Interinstitutional Agreement.
  11. Takes the view that EU ambassadors in strategic countries and EU special representatives should be confirmed only after a positive evaluation from Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  12. Denounces bans by some countries on Parliament delegations and individual MEPs entering their territories and threats and sanctions against MEPs; insists the Council and member states take immediate and robust action, including sanctions if deemed necessary.

Who is affected

  • The Commission, the Council and the EEAS, which are asked to recognise Parliament as a 'Team Europe' player and to improve accountability and transparency.
  • EU delegations, which are asked to support Parliament's missions and publicise Parliament's work relevant to their host country, including in the local language.
  • Member states, which are asked to involve Parliament in strategic foreign affairs matters and to act when Parliament's bodies or MEPs are targeted by non-EU countries.
  • National parliaments of member states and of candidate and potential candidate countries, with which Parliament seeks stronger relations and cooperation in the accession process.
  • Human rights defenders, journalists and vulnerable groups, for whom Parliament seeks coordinated EU action and an interinstitutional task force.

Figures and deadlines

  • 45 standing delegations maintain and deepen relations with parliaments from non-EU countries, regions and organisations.
  • Article 36 TEU requires the VP/HR to appear before Parliament at least twice a year on CFSP/CSDP.
  • The Interinstitutional Agreement of 20 November 2002 concerns Parliament's access to Council sensitive information in security and defence policy.
  • The Declaration on Political Accountability of 20 July 2010 concerns relations between the EEAS and Parliament.
  • Article 5(7) of Council Decision 2010/427/EU states that Union Delegations shall respond to the needs of other institutions, in particular the European Parliament.

Legal basis: Articles 14(1), 21 and 36 of the Treaty on European Union.