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establishing the WEU is no longer valid.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.
