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Security and Defence Subcommittee (SEDE) - European Parliament

In-Depth Analysis - Challenges to Freedom of the Seas and Maritime Rivalry in Asia - PE 578.014 - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Tue, 14/03/2017 - 00:00
China’s New Maritime Silk Road policy poses geostrategic challenges and offers some opportunities for the US and its allies in Asia-Pacific. To offset China’s westward focus, the US seeks to create a global alliance strategy with the aim to maintain a balance of power in Eurasia, to avoid a strong Russia-China or China-EU partnership fostered on economic cooperation. For the EU, the ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) initiative by improving infrastructure may contribute to economic development in neighbouring countries and in Africa but present also risks in terms of unfair economic competition and increased Chinese domination. Furthermore, China’s behaviour in the South China Sea and rebuff of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, in July 2016, put the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at risk with possible consequences to freedom of the seas. Increasing relations with China could also affect EU-US relations at a time of China-US tension. To face these challenges, a stronger EU, taking more responsibility in Defence and Security, including inside NATO, is needed.
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Latest news - The next SEDE meeting - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Mon, 13/03/2017 - 09:45

will take place on Wednesday 22 March, 9:00-12:30 and 15:15-18:30 and Thursday 23 March 2017, 9.00-12:30 in Brussels.

Organisations or interest groups who wish to apply for access to the European Parliament will find the relevant information below.


Further information
watch the meeting live
Access rights for interest group representatives
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Video of a committee meeting - Thursday, 9 March 2017 - 09:09 - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Thu, 09/03/2017 - 14:15
Length of video : 160'
You may manually download this video in WMV (1.4Gb) format

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, 2017 - EP

Highlights - UN-EU Strategic Partnership on Peacekeeping and Crisis Management - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Tue, 07/03/2017 - 10:36
The committee will welcome Annick Hiensch, Deputy Head of the UN Liaison Office for Peace and Security and Clara Ganslandt, Head of Division for Common Security and Defence Policy – partnerships and agreements, EEAS for a discussion on the UN-EU Strategic Partnership on Peacekeeping. The debate on 9 March will aim to review the implementation of the Council’s 2015 decision on “Strengthening the UN-EU Strategic Partnership” and explore the new commitments made under the EU’s Global Strategy.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Highlights - CSDP missions and operations: Learning the lessons!? - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Tue, 07/03/2017 - 09:14
On 9 March, the subcommittee will discuss the topic "CSDP missions and operations: Learning the lessons!?" with Giovanni Cremonini, Chair of the EEAS inter-service CSDP Lessons Working Group. With the EU having established, over recent years, a coherent mechanism for identifying best practices in CSDP missions, primarily through its Annual CSDP Lessons report and the associated processes, the committee will use this opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved and explore the way forward.
Further information
draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Latest news - CSDP missions and operations: Learning the lessons!? - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Mon, 06/03/2017 - 15:34

On 9 March, the subcommittee will discuss the topic "CSDP missions and operations: Learning the lessons!?" with Giovanni Cremonini, Chair of the EEAS inter-service CSDP Lessons Working Group. With the EU having established, over recent years, a coherent mechanism for identifying best practices in CSDP missions, primarily through its Annual CSDP Lessons report and the associated processes, the committee will use this opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved and explore the way forward.


Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Highlights - First consideration of draft report on private security companies - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Thu, 02/03/2017 - 15:01
On 9 March, SEDE will discuss, for the first time, its draft own-initiative report on private security companies (Rapporteur: Hilde Vautmans, ALDE). The report focusses on the increasingly important role played by private security companies in support of national militaries and EU activities abroad. It notes various challenges associated with their use and raises questions about regulating the activities of these quasi-transnational actors.
Further information
Draft report
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Study - Civilian and Military Personnel in CSDP Missions and Operations - PE 578.035 - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Thu, 16/02/2017 - 00:00
The workshop was organised on January 26, 2017 at the initiative of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) with the aim to highlight trends, challenges and recommendations regarding civilian and military personnel deployed in CSDP missions and operations in particular in the areas of force generation, training and the national follow-up on crimes and offences perpetrated during deployment. Annalisa Creta is research fellow of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy, specialised in civilian crisis management with a particular focus on training issues. Petteri Taitto is affiliated with the Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland as principal scientist. Alberto di Martino is full professor of criminal law at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy.
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Highlights - Relations between the EU and Saudi Arabia in the field of security and defence - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Mon, 13/02/2017 - 14:44
The workshop was organized on October 13, 2016 at the initiative of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) with the aim of assessing relations between Saudi Arabia and the Member States in the field of armaments cooperation, touching on the absence of a common European position in this area.
Agnès Levallois, lecturer at Sciences Po Paris and ENA, is affiliated to the Académie Diplomatique and works as a consultant, specialising in political, strategic and economic issues in the Middle East. Jane Kinninmont is a senior research fellow and deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House.
Further information
Workshop - In Depth Analysis
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Publications - Meeting documents : SEDE meeting on 25-26 January 2017 - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Fri, 10/02/2017 - 14:52

Item 12: Military cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe - Presentation by General Andrzej Falkowski, Polish Military Representative to NATO : [EN]
Item 12: Military cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe - Presentation by Colonel Serhii Rechych, Defence Adviser, Mission of Ukraine to the EU : [EN]
Item 13: The future of EU Battlegroups - Presentation by General Daniel Grammatico, Director Operations, EU Military Staff : [EN]
Item 14: The European Security and Defence College as a key training provider in the field of CSDP - Presentation by Dirk Dubois, Head of the ESDC : [EN]
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Highlights - The future of EU Battlegroups - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Fri, 10/02/2017 - 14:30
On 25 January, the SEDE committee invited Brigadier General Daniel Grammatico, Director Operations at the EU Military Staff and Niklas Novaky, visiting researcher at VUB Brussels, to discuss the future of EU battlegroups. In the light of the recent push for more cooperation in the field of European security and defence, these experts exchanged views with the members of the committee on what can be done to make the battlegroups more operational and their actual use more likely.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Presentation by Brigadier General Daniel Grammatico, Director Operations, EU Military Staff
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Highlights - The European Security and Defence College in SEDE - Subcommittee on Security and Defence

Fri, 10/02/2017 - 14:18
On 26 January, Dirk Dubois, Head of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), Michael Swann, Chair of the ESDC Steering Committee and Antonio Missiroli, Head of the ESDC’s Academic Board met with the SEDE committee to discuss the contribution of the college to the EU's CSDP activities. The college's training activities prepare both policymakers and mission staff for the activities involved in the full life-cycle of CSDP missions and aim to create a European security culture.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Presentation by Dirk Dubois, Head of the European Security and Defence College
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Video of a committee meeting - Thursday, 9 February 2017 - 09:06 - Subcommittee on Security and Defence - Committee on Constitutional Affairs - Committee on Foreign Affairs

Thu, 09/02/2017 - 13:34
Length of video : 35'
You may manually download this video in WMV (432Mb) format

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, 2017 - EP

Press release - Defence: MEPs urge member states to show political will and join forces - Subcommittee on Security and Defence - Committee on Constitutional Affairs - Committee on Foreign Affairs

Thu, 09/02/2017 - 12:03
Defence cooperation in the EU is now more dependent on political will than on legal considerations, say the Foreign Affairs and Constitutional Affairs committees in a joint resolution passed on Thursday.
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

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