2010 

LT  FR

Intervention by Mrs Irena Degutienė, Speaker of the Seimas of Republic of Lithuania at the European Union Speakers Conference


 

14 May 2010,

Stockholm (Sweden)

 

Colleagues,


It is of high importance today to focus on the form that parliamentary scrutiny of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) will take in future.


The EU has travelled a long and challenging path of evolution since the Maastricht Treaty, starting with a search for its own identity in the area of security and defence to shaping a Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The Western European Union (WEU) and its Assembly have made a substantial contribution in the field.


The
WEU Parliamentary Assembly has substantially contributed to the creation and development of the European defence and security architecture. Obviously, parliamentary scrutiny should remain in place even after the Treaty establishing the WEU is no longer valid. Parliaments must ensure the continuity of parliamentary participation in the European Security and Defence Policy.


It is clear that the areas covered by the European Union have significantly expanded over the past two decades. The role of the national parliamentary committees is therefore increasingly important in ensuring effective parliamentary scrutiny over the new competences assigned.


A logical and consistent step would be to see
COSAC evolve into a forum for debate and coordination of major political issues. In view of the particular importance of the CSDP and the need for continued parliamentary scrutiny in this domain, it is therefore advisable that COSAC makes an immediate decision, proposing establishment of a Conference of Committees for debate on the Security and Defence Policy so that it meets on a regular basis. Such a Conference could be made up of members of National Security and Defence Committees and convene biannually to discuss the key issues in the Security and Defence Policy.


We firmly believe that addressing new challenges requires not only focused efforts, but also parliamentary scrutiny of the Security and Defence Policy, as well as accountability to national parliaments. We encourage the expansion and strengthening of the parliamentary dialogue on the Common Security and Defence Policy based on the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





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