The following Parliamentary Update covers the European Parliament’s exchange of views on the new responsibilities to protect human rights under the amended regulation of FRONTEX, held by the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) on May 16^th 2013. The experts panel was composed of Inmaculada Arnaez Fernandez, FRONTEX Fundamental Rights Officer, Stefan Kessler, Co-Chair of FRONTEX Consultative Forum, Daphne Dumery, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, and Paul d’Auchamp, Deputy of OHCHR’s Regional Office for Europe, Brussels, representing Mr. François Crépeau, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Migrants.

The following Parliamentary Update covers the European Parliament's session of the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on EU and NATO defence capabilities in light of the upcoming December European Council. The discussion included an exchange of views between MEPs and Brigadier General Walter Huhn, Senior Military Advisor at CMPD, Professor Sven Biscop, Egmont Institute Brussels and mr. Timo Koster, Director for Defence Policy and Capabilities, Defence Policy and Planning Division, NATO.

The following Parliamentary Update covers the European Parliament’s afternoon session on NATO’s perspective of the future of European Defence that was jointly held by the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) in the presence of representatives from the National Parliaments on May 6^th 2013. The meeting included an exchange of views between MEPs and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO.

The following parliamentary update covers the second part of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE)’s morning session, on April 25^th 2013. In the first point the discussion on MEP Ana Gomes’s (S&D) report on the Maritime Dimension of the Common Security and Defence Policy continued. The second point included a debriefing of the Foreign Affairs Council (23 April) by EEAS Deputy Secretary General Maciej Popowski.  

The following Parliamentary Update covers the European Parliament’s public hearing on the Human Rights Implications of the Use of Drones, jointly held by the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) on April 25^th 2013. The meeting included an exchange of views between MEPs and Dr. Nils Melzer, Senior Advisor and Senior Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), Swiss Chair of International Humanitarian Law at the Geneva Academy (ADH), Mr. Ben Emmerson, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights, Mr Camille Grand, Director of the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique in Paris, Mrs Hilary Brooke Stauffer, Deputy Director of Reprieve, UK, and Mrs Mary Ellen O’Connell, Robert and Marion Short Chair in Law and Research Professor of International Dispute Resolution—Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame, USA (video message). 

The following parliamentary update covers the two topics on the agenda of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence’s (SEDE) afternoon session, on 24 April 2013. The first part included an exchange of views with Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission, on the European defence industry. In the second part, Ambassador Vygaudas Usackas, EU Special Representative for Afghanistan, and General Olivier de Bavinchove, former Chief of Staff of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, shared their views about the current situation in Afghanistan.

The following parliamentary update covers the extraordinary session of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) in Strasbourg, on 18 April 2013. The discussion included an exchange of views with Laurent Fabius, Foreign Minister of France, on the security situation in the Sahel and Syria.

The following parliamentary update covers the afternoon session of the Foreign Affairs Committee held jointly with the Committee on Development, the Subcommittee on Security and Defence and the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union, on 8 April 2013. The discussion included an exchange of views with Romano Prodi, UN Special Envoy for the Sahel, on the situation in the region, and in the presence of the chairs of committees on foreign affairs from the Maghreb countries: Belabbas Belkacem (Algeria), Fawzi Akabi (Libya), Ali Kebiri (Morocco), Souad Abderrahim (Tunisia).

The following parliamentary update covers the two topics in the agenda of the European Parliament Sub-committee on Security and Defense (SEDE)’s morning session, on 7 March 2013. The first part included an exchange of views with Ambassador Jacek Bylica, Principal Advisor and Special Envoy for Non-proliferation and Disarmament (EEAS) and Bruno Tertrais, Senior Research Fellow at the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique. In the second part, the public hearing explored the security and military environment that has been developed in the South China Sea with input from Jonathan Holslag, Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies, Teresa Fallon, European Institute for Asian Studies, Dr. Steven Tsang, Director of the China Policy Institute of Nottingham University and Yann-Huei Song, Research Fellow at the Taipei Institute of European and American Studies

The afternoon session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence  (SEDE) which took place on January 23rd, engaged a discussion about the future options for improved European defence capabilities for EU and NATO with General Klaus Naumann, former Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, and an exchange of views on the future of European defence with the Chairman of the EU Military Committee, General Patrick de Rousiers. The main subject of the meeting was the situation in Mali.

The morning session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) took place on 28 November 2012. With the participation of Gilles de Kerchove, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Manuel Lopez Blanco, Director, Western and Central Africa (EEAS) and Hansjörg Haber, Civilian Operations Commander and Director of CPCC, the main discussion was related to the security situation in the Sahel region and to the latest developments of CSDP Mission EUCAP SAHEL Niger. 

This parliamentary update covers the three topics on the agenda of the European Parliament Subcommitee on Security and Defence (SEDE)’s session on 12 November 2012. The first topic included an exchange of views on the current situation in Afghanistan with Ambassador Stephen Evans, Assistant Secretary General for Operations at NATO, and Hansjoerg Haber, Civilian Operations Commander and Director of CPCC. This was followed by another exchange of views with Mr. Hansjoerg Haber regarding two relatively new CSDP missions in the African Sahel: EUCAP Nestor and EUAVSEC South Sudan. Finally, MEPs and representatives of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) discussed the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, particularly the voluntary aspect of Article 11. The meeting was chaired by MEP Norica Nicolai, Vice President of the SEDE Subcommittee. 

This parliamentary update covers the three topics on the agenda of the European Parliament Subcommitee on Security and Defence (SEDE)’s afternoon session, on 9 October 2012. The first topic included an exchange of views with Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive Director of the European Defence Agency, and Eric Huybrechts, Deputy Director of OCCAR. Members of the Subcommittee, then, discussed MEP Pascu’s report on the mutual assistance and solidarity clauses which has reached its terminal phase; it will be voted on in AFET on 25 October, in Strasbourg. Finally, MEPs and representatives of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) dealt with the SEDE’s draft opinion on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The meeting was chaired by MEP Arnaud Danjean, Chair of the SEDE Subcommittee. 

The morning session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) took place on 9 October 2012. With the participation of Maciej Popowski, EEAS Deputy Secretary General, and based on the last informal meeting of EU’s Defence Ministers, the main discussion was related to the latest developments in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), particularly relating to security.

The afternoon session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) took place on 17 September2012^h. It engaged in two main topics for discussion: Cyber Security and Defence and The Role of the CSDP in case of climate driven crises and natural disasters. First of all, a vote took place for the election of 1^st Vice-Chair of the subcommittee, followed by an exchange of views about the visit of a SEDE delegation to Israel and Palestinian Territories and a discussion on Horizon 2020. This Parliamentary Update will cover the exchange of views between Members of the SEDE Subcommittee, and representatives from the Commission and the European External Action Service. 

The morning session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence  (SEDE) which took place on September 18th, engaged in two topics for discussion: the EU’s mutual defence and solidarity clauses: political and operational dimensions, and the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy. This Parliamentary Update will cover the exchange of views between Members of the SEDE Subcommittee, and representatives from the Commission and the European External Action Service. 

This parliamentary update covers the two topics on the agenda of the European Parliament Subcommitee on Security and Defence (SEDE)’s afternoon session, on 11 July 2012. The first topic included an exchange of views between Rear-Admiral Neil Morisetti, Climate and Energy Security Envoy for the UK Ministry of Defence, Rear-Admiral Bruce Williams, Deputy Director General of the EU Military Staff, Mr. Christian Bréant, Research & Technology Director of the European Defence Agency (EDA), and Mr. Tom Spencer, Vice-Chairman from the Global Military Advisory Council. The session was chaired by SEDE Vice-Chair Justas Vincas Paleckis (S&D).

The morning session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) that took place on 21 June 2012, engaged in three topics for discussion: the Establishment of Horizon 2020 – The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014 – 2020), the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate driven crises and natural disasters, and the EU’s mutual defence and solidarity clauses: political and operational dimensions. This Parliamentary Update will cover the exchange of views between MEP Kyriakos Mavronikolas (S&D), MEP Ana Gomes (S&D), MEP Tarja Cronberg (Greens/EFA), MEP Michael Gahler (EPP), MEP Janusz Wladyslaw Zemke (S&D), MEP Petru Constantin Luhan (EPP), MEP Indrek Tarand (Greens/EFA), MEP Nadezhda Neynsky (EPP), Shadow Rapporteur, MEP Norica Nicolai (ALDE), Vice-Chair of SEDE, MEP Ioan Mircea Paşcu (ALDE), MEP Marietta Giannakou (EPP), MEP Andrew Duff (ALDE) and Mr. Marco Malacarne, Acting Director of DG Enterprise, EU Commission. The session was chaired by SEDE Chair, MEP Arnaud Danjean (EPP).

This session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), which took place on 20 June 2012, hosted a workshop by the Directorate-General for External Polices on the situation Nagorno-Karabakh. The workshop included presentations by Ms. Tracey German, Defence Studies Department, King’s College London; Dr. Adam Eberhardt, Deputy Director, Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), Poland; Mr. Dennis Sammut, Executive Director of LINKS, London Information Network on Conflicts and State-building; and Mr. Philippe Lefort, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia1. The presentations were followed by an exchange of views between MEP Milan Cabrnoch (ECR), Chair of the South Caucasus delegation, MEP Krzysztof Lisek (EPP), Vice-Chair of SEDE, MEP Norica Nicolai (ALDE), Vice-Chair of SEDE, MEP Justas Vincas Paleckis (S&D), Vice-Chair of SEDE, MEP Idrek Tarand (Greens/EFA), MEP Charles Tannock (ECR), MEP Michael Gahler (EPP), MEP Maria Eleni Koppa (S&D), MEP Ivo Vahgl (ALDE), MEP Vytautas Landsbergis (EPP), MEP Evgeni Kirilov (S&D), MEP Andrey Kovatchev, (EPP), MEP Anna Ibrisagic (EPP). The session was chaired by SEDE Chair Arnaud Danjean (EPP).

This session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) which took place on 20 June 2012, engaged in two topics for discussion: EU Satellite Navigation Systems, and the Implementation of the Single European Sky Legislation. This Parliamentary Update will cover the exchange of views between MEP Sampo Terho (EFD), MEP Norica Nicolai (ALDE), MEP Michael Gahler (EPP), MEP Maria Eleni Koppa (S&D), MEP Tarja Cronberg (Greens/EFA), MEP Evgeni Kirilov (S&D), MEP Ana Gomes (S&D), MEP Krzysztof Lisek (EPP), Mr. Frank Asbeck, Principal Advisor for Space and Security policy, European External Action Service (EEAS), Brigadier General Giampaolo Lillo, Armaments Director, European Defence Agency (EDA) and Mr. Umberto Rossi, Military Advisor, DG MOVE (Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport), EU Commission. The session was chaired by SEDE Chair, MEP Arnaud Danjean (EPP).

The morning session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), took place on 29 May 2012, and engaged in three topics for discussion: staffing issues within the CPCC; a recent EU mission to Syria; draft legislation on external borders and visas.This Parliamentary Update will cover the exchange of views between MEP Tunne Kelam (EPP), MEP Ana Gomes (S&D), MEP Janusz Władysław Zemke (S&D), MEP Hélène Flautre (Greens/EFA), Mr. Hansjörg Haber, Director of CPCC and Civilian Operations Commander, Mr. Agostine Miozzo, Managing Director for Crisis Response and Operational Coordination (EEAS), and Mr. Antoine Savary, Financial Support - Migration and Borders Unit of EU Commission DG Home Affairs. The session was chaired by SEDE Vice-Chair MEP Krzysztof Lisek (EPP).

This parliamentary update covers the public hearing on “The proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW)” that took place during the afternoon session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), on 29 May 2012. The meeting included an exchange of views between Professor Keith Krause, Director of the Small Arms Survey, Mrs. Clara Ganslandt, Chair of the Working Group on Global Arms Control and Disarmament (CODUN) at the EEAS, Mr. Marc Bromley, Senior Researcher, Arms Transfers Programme at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and Mr. Cédric Poitevin, Head of the SALW project at the Group for Research and Information on Peace and Security (GRIP). The session was first chaired by Vice-Chair MEP Kyriakos Mavronikolas (S&D), followed by MEP Tunne Kelam (EPP) and SEDE Vice-Chair Justas Vincas Paleckis (S&D).

The morning session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence  (SEDE), which took place on 8 May 2012, focused on the Parliament’s Resolution on the Negotiation on the UN Arms Trade Treaty,as well as on the development of united EU stances on the issue. This Parliamentary Update will cover the exchange of views between MEPs Gahler (EEP), Cronberg (Greens/EFA), Jäätteenmäki (ALDE), and Mr Fabio Della Piazza (COARM) and Ms. An Vranckx (Saferworld). The session was chaired by SEDE Vice-Chair MEP Norica Nicolai (ALDE). 

Part 1: The role of the Common Security and Defence Policy in case of climate-driven crises and natural disasters

Part 2: Implementation of the Single European Sky legislation

The morning session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), which took place on April 26^th, focused on the role of the CSDP in climate-driven crises and natural disasters, and on the implementation of the Single European Sky legislation. This Parliamentary Update will cover the exchange of views between MEPs Cronberg (Greens/EFA), Kirilov (S&D), Lisek (EPP), Lösing (GUE/NGL), Paleckis (S&D), Tarand (Greens/EFA) and Zemke (S&D), and Mr. Umberto Rossi, Military Adviser of the Commission. The session was chaired by Vice-President MEP Norica Nicolai (ALDE).

Part 1: Implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation system

COM(2011) 814 final

Part 2: “Tackling Crime in our Digital Age: Establishing a European Cybercrime Centre”

COM(2012) 140 final

A meeting of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) took place on 25 April 2012, chaired by MEP Norica Nicolai (ALDE). This update includes coverage of an exchange of views on two different reports by the European Commission.

This Parliamentary Update covers the latest meeting of the European Parliament Subcommittee on human rights (DROI) chaired by MEP Barbara Lochbihler (Green/European Free Alliance), on 12 April 2012. The meeting focused on the issue of the protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism, with an exchange of views with Mr. Juan Méndez and Mr. Ben Emmerson, United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Torture and other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment, and on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Mr. Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and Mr. Clive Stafford Smith, Director of Reprieve, an organisation dedicated to the enforcement of prisoners’ human rights.

This Parliamentary Update will cover the afternoon session of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) on 20 March 2012 where an exchange of views with Major General Marcel Druart, Director of Operations Division, International Military Staff, NATO, was held on Libya and the lessons learned for European military capabilities.

A meeting of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) took place on 20 March 2012, chaired by MEP Arnaud Danjean. This update includes coverage of an exchange of views with Alexander Rondos, EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, and with Rear Admiral Duncan L. Potts, Operation Commander, EUNAVFOR Somalia-Operation Atalanta

The European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) reconvened on 28 February 2012 to discuss principally security in Libya and the European Union’s Internal Security Strategy. The discussion on the state of play of civilian missions under CSDP was postponed to a later date, due to the absence of Hansjörg Haber, Civilian Operations Commander and Director of CPCC. The report below outlines the proceedings of the meeting.

The second meeting of the year of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) took place on 9 February 2012. In the absence of MEP Arnaud Danjean, MEP Norica Nicolai acted as Chair. This update includes coverage of an exchange of views with Hansjoerg Haber, Civilian Operations Commander, and Brigadier General Laszlo Huszar, Head of Mission, on the progress of EUJUST LEX-Iraq mission, and an exchange of views with Ambassador Theodor H. Winkler, Director of DCAF, on the Role of the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces.

The European Parliament welcomed the first Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) meeting of the year on 25 January 2012. After overseeing the election of the Chair and Vice Chairs, the sitting witnessed an exchange of views from Ambassador Walter Stevens, head of the CMPD, on the activation of the EU Operations Centre and the planning and conduct of the operations of the CSDP missions in the Horn of Africa; and General Ton van Osch, Director General of the EUMS, on the activities of the EU Military Staff. The report below outlines the proceedings of the meeting.

This update covers the Human Rights (DROI) Subcommittee meeting on an open debate on "Follow-up to UNSC resolution 1820 concerning women, peace and security".

This update includes coverage of the Plenary Session of the European Parliament that took place on 11 May in Strasbourg, on review of Common Security and Foreign Policy (CFSP) and the situation in Syria, including statements from HR/VP Ashton and the Presidents of the EP political groups. Also presentation of reports from MEP Albertini on CFSP; MEP Gualtieri on Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and MEP Muniz De Urquiza on the EU as a Global Actor.

This update includes coverage of an exchange of views with Samuel Žbogar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, on the work of the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) and other issues, as well as an exchange of views with Pieter De Crem, Minister of Defence of Belgium, on the achievements in CSDP during the second half of 2010.

This update covers an exchange of views with Cornelius Adebahr (German Council on Foreign Relations) on the role and scope of EU Special Representatives (EUSRs) after Lisbon and within the European External Action Service (EEAS).

This update covers an exchange of views with Taïb Fassi-Fihri, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, on the recent incidents in Western Sahara.

This update reports on a Public Hearing on 2 December 2010 on "Migratory Flows Arising from Instability - Scope and Role of EU Foreign Policy" organised by the Committee on Foreign Affairs in association with the Committee on Development. Presentations were given by Robertus Rozenburg, Head of Unit for Migration, European Commission - DG-DEV; Bernard Brunet, Deputy Head of Unit for the Maghreb, European Commission – DG RELEX; Paola Pace, Acting Head of the International Migration Law Unit, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Geneva; and Enrique Mora Benavente, Director of the Policy Planning Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain.

This update covers an exchange of views with Ad Melkert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Iraq.