Security and Defence Subcommittee (SEDE) - European Parliament

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence will go over the new EU-US agenda for global change on 27 January. It will also look into perspectives for a future bilateral dialogue in security and defence that would allow the US to participate in EU military initiates and operations. Representatives of the EEAS, the German Marshall Fund and the Penn Biden Center will participate.
Meeting agenda and documents
Live streaming
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
Summary: Towards a new EU-US Security and Defence Dialogue
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

In the context of the exponential growth of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the President of the European Parliament has announced a number of measures to contain the spread of epidemic and to safeguard Parliament's core activities.

The current precautionary measures adopted by the European Parliament to contain the spread of COVID-19 do not affect work on legislative priorities. Core activities are reduced, but maintained to ensure that the institution's legislative, budgetary, scrutiny functions are maintained.

The meetings will be with remote participation for Members (being able to view and listen to proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meeting). Other participants are invited to follow the meeting through webstreaming.

Following these decisions, the next meeting of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) will take place on 24 and 25 February 2021 (online).

SEDE meetings' calendar 2021
EP calendar 2021
Press release: Chair of the Security and Defence Subcommittee welcomes extension of the New START Treaty - 5 February 2021
Press release: MEPs to discuss security and defence priorities with Minister Gomes Cravinho - 28 January 2021
Press release: MEPs call for unity in Common Security and Defence Policy - 4 December 2020
Press release: MEPS to examine prospects of the EU space defence sector - 27 November 2020
Common Security and Defence Policy: Disinformation targeting EU missions and operations - 16 November 2020
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Ministers outlined the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Development
Committee on Economic and Monetary 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, 2021 - EP

This paper looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic has directly and indirectly affected European security and defence. It documents how missions and operations of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) were directly impacted. It finds that COVID-19 has accentuated already recognised capacity shortfalls of the CSDP, such as strategic airlift, secure communications and command and control. Defence spending through EU instruments, and to a lesser extent at national level, has come under pressure although it may still escape post-2008 style cuts. The pandemic revealed the vulnerabilities of Member States’ infrastructure and supply chains, and the limited competences of the EU in supporting Member States’ management of public health emergencies. COVID-19 tends to act as a threat multiplier and source of instability, particularly in low-income countries already affected by socio-economic imbalances and governance problems. The pandemic is likely to accelerate existing trends, including the declining share of the US and the EU in the world economy compared to Asia, intensifying concerns about China’s growing assertiveness, growing attention to IT security and cyber capabilities, and the interconnection between conventional and unconventional security risks. This analysis also looks at which lessons the EU should learn in order to better manage and prepare for such crises. At a strategic level, the EU needs to invest in lesson learning exercises with the European Parliament playing a key role in making the learning publicly accessible. It should also be proactive in shaping international discourses about international governance and the role of the EU post COVID-19. Furthermore, the paper elaborates 19 short and longer-term recommendations, for instance, on how CSDP missions can become more resilient in public health emergencies and which capability shortfalls need addressing most; how defence spending can be made more efficient and better targeted; or how the EU can help to better coordinate military support to civilian authorities. Finally, it advocates investment in health intelligence and better managing the biosecurity risks arising from growing access to dual-use technologies. The EU should forge a preventive approach to future pandemics and associated risks and embrace a comprehensive approach to security and resilience. Yet, one should not lose sight of the distinctive function of the CSDP and what it can currently deliver.
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence will go over the new EU-US agenda for global change on 27 January. It will also look into perspectives for a future bilateral dialogue in security and defence that would allow the US to participate in EU military initiates and operations. Representatives of the EEAS, the German Marshall Fund and the Penn Biden Center will participate.
Meeting agenda and documents
Live streaming
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Parliament's committees will meet representatives of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union to discuss its priorities in relation to the committees' respective areas of responsibility. These meetings will start taking place on 25 January. The Portuguese Presidency started its mandate in the beginning of January and runs until the end of June 2021. On 28 January 2021, SEDE Members will have an exchange of views with João GOMES CRAVINHO, Minister of National Defence of Portugal, on the Portuguese priorities in the area of the EU security and defence.
Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Programme for the Portuguese Presidency
EU Fact Sheets: How the European Union works
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The Monthly Highlights publication provides an overview, at a glance, of the on-going work of the policy departments, including a selection of the latest and forthcoming publications, and a list of future events.
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

In the context of the exponential growth of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the President of the European Parliament has announced a number of measures to contain the spread of epidemic and to safeguard Parliament's core activities.

The current precautionary measures adopted by the European Parliament to contain the spread of COVID-19 do not affect work on legislative priorities. Core activities are reduced, but maintained to ensure that the institution's legislative, budgetary, scrutiny functions are maintained.

The meetings will be with remote participation for Members (being able to view and listen to proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meeting). Other participants are invited to follow the meeting through webstreaming.

Following these decisions, the next meeting of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) will take place on 27 and 28 January 2021 (online).

New EP calendar 2020
SEDE meetings' calendar 2020
SEDE meetings' calendar 2021
Press release: MEPs call for unity in Common Security and Defence Policy - 4 December 2020
Press release: MEPS to examine prospects of the EU space defence sector - 27 November 2020
Common Security and Defence Policy: Disinformation targeting EU missions and operations - 16 November 2020
Press release: Security and Defence Subcommittee MEPs will discuss continuing threat from Daesh - 27 October 2020
Press release: MEPs reiterate their support for Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - 21 October 2020
Press release: - PESCO: MEPs call Member States to deepen defence cooperation at EU level - 21 October 2020
Press release: Implementation of the CSDP: MEPs to discuss the annual draft report 2019 - 15 October 2020
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Today, the European Union can boast a degree of strategic autonomy in space. Projects such as Galileo have not only enhanced the EU’s economy, but they may confer on the Union the ability to amplify its Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy. While the EU continues to promote the safe, secure and sustainable use of space, it is also true that space is rapidly becoming a political arena that hangs over geopolitical competition on earth. Space is crucial for EU security and defence. Yet the EU is at a cross-roads and it needs to develop ways to ensure that it maintains its strategic autonomy in space. Without strategic autonomy in space, there can be no strategic autonomy on earth. There is a need for the Union to invest in its space presence, push the technological frontier in space, ensure that its ground- and space-based critical infrastructure is protected, ensure that its industrial supply chains are resilient and utilise new initiatives in security and defence to further enhance the EU’s ability to act autonomously.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence will discuss the prospects for the EU space defence sector with experts, on 30 November. This debate will take place in a context where the EU's space, defence and civil security industries face unprecedented competition in a highly volatile geopolitical environment, highlighting the need to ensure the EU's access to space, its resilience and security of infrastructure.
Meeting agenda and documents
Live Streaming
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
Summary: Prospects for the EU space defence sector
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

In the context of the exponential growth of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the President of the European Parliament has announced a number of measures to contain the spread of epidemic and to safeguard Parliament's core activities.

The current precautionary measures adopted by the European Parliament to contain the spread of COVID-19 do not affect work on legislative priorities. Core activities are reduced, but maintained to ensure that the institution's legislative, budgetary, scrutiny functions are maintained.

The meetings will be with remote participation for Members (being able to view and listen to proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meeting). Other participants are invited to follow the meeting through webstreaming.

Following these decisions, the next meeting of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) will take place on 27 and 28 January 2021 (online).

New EP calendar 2020
SEDE meetings' calendar 2020
Press release: MEPs call for unity in Common Security and Defence Policy - 4 December 2020
Press release: MEPS to examine prospects of the EU space defence sector - 27 November 2020
Common Security and Defence Policy: Disinformation targeting EU missions and operations - 16 November 2020
Press release: Security and Defence Subcommittee MEPs will discuss continuing threat from Daesh - 27 October 2020
Press release: MEPs reiterate their support for Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - 21 October 2020
Press release: - PESCO: MEPs call Member States to deepen defence cooperation at EU level - 21 October 2020
Press release: Implementation of the CSDP: MEPs to discuss the annual draft report 2019 - 15 October 2020
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The EU is facing important challenges in the arms control and disarmament domain: firstly, the gradual abandonment of bilateral agreements between the US and Russia that protected European territory, and secondly, an increasing polarisation among the parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), evidenced by the controversy sparked by the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Both developments combined weaken the arms control and disarmament regime, increasing the likelihood of a global nuclear arms race. While the EU has progressively enhanced its role in arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament, it is afflicted by the same cleavage over disarmament that characterises the NPT framework. Based on a review of the drivers of the current crisis and the options for addressing them, the present briefing illuminates the EU’s record, and identifies ways in which the European Parliament can support the nuclear arms control agenda despite its lack of formal competence in the field. These notably include developing a modus vivendi with the TPNW, and encouraging the Council to lay the groundwork for a multilateral arms control treaty system.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 73'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 120'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 136'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The Subcommittee on Security and Defence will discuss the prospects for the EU space defence sector with experts, on 30 November. This debate will take place in a context where the EU's space, defence and civil security industries face unprecedented competition in a highly volatile geopolitical environment, highlighting the need to ensure the EU's access to space, its resilience and security of infrastructure.
Meeting agenda and documents
Live Streaming
EU Fact Sheets: Security and defence
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP