Security and Defence Subcommittee (SEDE) - European Parliament

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On 14 February, SEDE MEPs will hold an exchange of views with the NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană on the security situation in the Black Sea, on the Eastern Flank and in the Western Balkans. This will be an opportunity to reiterate our unwavering support to Ukraine, two years after the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. ...
Enhancing the EU's CSDP Mission in Armenia will be discussed - in camera - with Stefano Tomat, Civilian Operations Commander and Managing Director for Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, EEAS and Markus Ritter, Head of Mission of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA). In addition, SEDE Members will discuss hybrid warfare and the "EU Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Threats-2023" with Aude Maio-Coliche, Director for Strategic Communication and Foresight at the EEAS.
Meeting agenda and documents
Webstreaming
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the Council.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Budgets
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Development
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Legal Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Committee on Fisheries
Committee on Regional Development
Committee on Transport and Tourism
Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The next ordinary meeting of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 14 February 2024 from 9.00-12.30 and 14.30-17.30hrs and Thursday, 15 February 2024 from 9.00-12.30 in Brussels (room SPAAK 5B1).

The meeting agenda and documents will be published here.

SEDE missions 2023:

• India - 17-21 December 2023
• Israel and OPT - 8-10 December 2023
  
• Germany and Poland - 24-26 July 2023
  
• Armenia - 19-22 June 2023
  
• Romania and Moldova - 15-18 May 2023
  
• Djibouti and Somalia - 1-4 April 2023
  
• Bosnia and Herzegovina - 20-23 February 2023
  

SEDE meetings' calendar 2024
EP calendar 2024
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On 24 January, SEDE MEPs will hold an exchange of views on the spill-over from the Israel-Hamas war in the escalation in the Red sea and in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. They will also exchange views with Jiří Šedivý, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency, on EU's defence capability priorities and progress in addressing critical capability gaps.

Ukraine remains high on the SEDE agenda with its regular update - in camera - on the European Peace Facility's role in providing military equipment for Ukraine and on the EU's Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine, with Lt Gen Michiel van der Laan, Director General of the EU Military Staff.

Meeting agenda and documents
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Tuesday, 23 January 2024 a joint hearing on “The European Union’s Strategy in the Sahel” will be organised by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Development and the Sub-Committee on Security and Defence. It will be an opportunity to critically reflect on the EU's policy and approach towards this important region in light of recent coup d’états.
The hearing will take a holistic approach that looks at the full picture of the root causes of instability in the region and the EU's policy towards the Sahel until now. It will allow MEPs to discuss ways in which the EU's strategy should be adapted to ensure that the EU's security, development, humanitarian and democracy-support assistance contributes to lasting sustainable development and enhanced security in this vital region and complements the efforts of the EU's partners.
Location : SPAAK 3C50
Draft programme
Hearing poster
Briefing on the new EU strategic priorities for the Sahel
Video recording of the hearing
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Tuesday, 23 January 2024 a joint hearing on “The European Union’s Strategy in the Sahel” will be organised by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Development and the Sub-Committee on Security and Defence. It will be an opportunity to critically reflect on the EU's policy and approach towards this important region in light of recent coup d’états.
The hearing will take a holistic approach that looks at the full picture of the root causes of instability in the region and the EU's policy towards the Sahel until now. It will allow MEPs to discuss ways in which the EU's strategy should be adapted to ensure that the EU's security, development, humanitarian and democracy-support assistance contributes to lasting sustainable development and enhanced security in this vital region and complements the efforts of the EU's partners.
Draft programme
Poster
Briefing on the new EU strategic priorities for the Sahel
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 13 November, SEDE MEPs will be briefed on a new and innovative CSDP mission whereby EU Delegation will be reinforced with civilian and military experts in order to support countries in the Gulf of Guinea to contain the pressure exerted by armed terrorist groups which are threatening the stability of the region. SEDE Members will discuss with Cosmin Dobran, Director for Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management in the EEAS, ...
the implementation and role of this new innovative and flexible CSDP initiative. Members will also exchange views in an in camera session with General Robert Brieger, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, the highest military body in the EU, on current priorities of the Committee, including progress on the implementation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity.
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 26 October, SEDE will discuss with an expert the study on “Security implications of China-owned critical infrastructure in the European Union”. The study analyses Chinese companies’ access to EU critical infrastructure and exposes how entities linked to the Chinese party-state can gain access to and exert influence on assets that are vital to Europe’s security and defence, including transport infrastructure, critical resources, telecommunications networks, defence sector.
Members will have the opportunity to discuss on the major security risks of the EU's interdependence with China, which is particularly important given the structural geopolitical changes, especially the fallout of the war in Ukraine, climate change and the transformative technological revolution that is underway. In addition, Members will discuss amendments tabled to two SEDE Own Initiative Reports on the subject of "The security and defence implications of China's influence on critical infrastructure in the European Union" and the Subcommittee's flagship Annual Report on the Implementation of CSDP.
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 26 October, a Hearing is organised on “Rising geopolitical tensions: the protection of subsea infrastructure, including communication cables and pipelines". As defence capabilities are connected digitally, undersea cables are vital for defence and security of EU Member States. The Hearing will therefore aim at assessing the current threat landscape and risks to subsea infrastructure, including different actors and their modus operandi to sabotage subsea infrastructure.
In the light of the recent reports of sabotage on the Finland/Estonia pipeline, the debate will also focus on possible ways to mitigate the risks, in particular via coordinated action with NATO to protect cross-border critical undersea infrastructure.
Draft programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

In the framework of a public Hearing on “Third state collusion with Russia: through arms export policy and the circumvention of EU policy and sanctions to prevent supplies to Russia’s military industry”, taking place on 25 October, Members will discuss how to prevent the circumvention, by Russia and its allies, of sanctions imposed in the aftermath of its war of aggression against Ukraine.
The debate focus on the scope and effectiveness of the EU anti-circumvention tool that was adopted with the EU's 11th package of sanctions designed to prevent Russia from acquiring goods for its defence industry. Members will also discuss additional measures to prevent Russia from accessing western military technologies, components and dual-use goods, via third countries, such as China.
Draft programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 23 October, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence will hold a hearing on "The situation in Syria 12 years after the revolution: Standstill, Dynamics, EU response, and Future Prospects?". It will provide a reflection on the political, social and economic consequences of the ongoing conflict, which has shaped the country's development in the twelve years since the Revolution. This hearing will take place during the EP Gender Equality week and
will give an opportunity to highlight the impact of conflict on women and the importance of women's contribution to conflict resolution and sustainable peace, in line with the UN resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Members will discuss with experts the geopolitics of the region under the changed circumstances, in which international and regional actors including Iran, Russia, Türkiye and the United States, but also local groups, are operating. The debate will also contribute to the upcoming AFET Recommendation on the situation in Syria for concretising political and diplomatic fine-tuning of the EU's Syria policy.
Programme and background documents
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On 23 October 2023, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence will hold a hearing on "The situation in Syria 12 years after the revolution: Standstill, Dynamics, EU response, and Future Prospects?". It will provide a reflection on the political, social and economic consequences of the ongoing conflict, which has shaped the country's development in the twelve years since the Revolution.
Members will discuss with experts the geopolitics of the region under the changed circumstances, in which international and regional actors including Iran, Russia, Türkiye and the United States, but also local groups, are operating. The hearing will contribute to the upcoming Recommendation on the situation in Syria that the Foreign Affairs Committee is preparing and which will provide recommendations for concrete political and diplomatic fine-tuning of the EU's Syria policy.
This hearing will take place during the European Parliament Gender Equality week and will be an opportunity to highlight the impact of conflict on women and the importance of women's contribution to conflict resolution and sustainable peace, in line with the UN resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Location : Antall 2Q2
Poster
Programme of the hearing
Briefing -Impact of sanctions on the humanitarian situation in Syria
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

In the framework of a public Hearing on “Third state collusion with Russia: through arms export policy and the circumvention of EU policy and sanctions to prevent supplies to Russia’s military industry”, taking place on 25 October, Members will discuss how to prevent the circumvention, by Russia and its allies, of sanctions imposed in the aftermath of its war of aggression against Ukraine.
The debate focus on the scope and effectiveness of the EU anti-circumvention tool that was adopted with the EU's 11th package of sanctions designed to prevent Russia from acquiring goods for its defence industry. Members will also discuss additional measures to prevent Russia from accessing western military technologies, components and dual-use goods, via third countries, such as China.
Location : SPINELLI 5E2
Draft programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP