What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on the role of the European Parliament and its parliamentary diplomacy in the EU’s foreign and security policy

(2023/2105(INI))

The European Parliament,

Changed:– having regard to Articles 14(1)14(1), 21 and 36 of the Treaty on European Union,Union (TEU),

4 unchanged paragraphs

– having regard to the Declaration on Political Accountability of 20 July 2010 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR),

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 28 June 2016 adopting the report entitled ‘Shared Vision, Common Action: a stronger Europe – A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy’,

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 25 March 2020 entitled ‘EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024’ (JOIN(2020)0005),

– having regard to the EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence – For a European Union that protects its citizens, values and interests and contributes to international peace and security, adopted on 21 March 2022,

Added:– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 25 November 2020 entitled ‘EU Gender Action Plan (Gap) III – An Ambitious Agenda for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in EU External Action’ (JOIN(2020)0017),

– having regard to Council Decision 2010/427/EU of 26 July 2010 establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service,

Added:– having regard to paragraph 34 of the Declaration of the 2023 Summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States of 18 July 2023 recognising parliamentary diplomacy as an important dimension of the relationship;

– having regard to its recommendation of 15 March 2023 to the Council and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy taking stock of the functioning of the EEAS and for a stronger EU in the world,

Added:– having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2023 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2022,

Added:– having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2023 on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2022,

– having regard to its resolution of 12 March 2019 on building EU capacity on conflict prevention and mediation,

– having regard to its decision of 13 September 2023 on amendments to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with a view to strengthening integrity, independence and accountability,

– having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

Changed:– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A9-0000/2023),(A9-0405/2023),

Change 1

Removed:A. whereas Article 36 of the Treaty on European Union requires the VP/HR to consult Parliament regularly on the principal aspects of and choices made under the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and to inform Parliament of policy evolutions;

Added:A. whereas Parliament’s role as co-legislator and co-budgetary authority covers not only EU internal policies, but also, to a large extent, the EU’s external action;

Removed:B. whereas Parliament scrutinises and discusses the conduct of EU external affairs, in particular through the work of its Committee on Foreign Affairs and its two subcommittees on Human Rights and on Security and Defence, as well as through its Committees on International Trade and on Development;

Added:B. whereas Article 36 TEU requires the VP/HR to consult Parliament regularly on the principal aspects of and choices made under the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and to inform Parliament of policy evolutions;

Removed:C. whereas parliamentary diplomacy can contribute to the achievement of EU objectives and to the promotion of EU values and policies, thereby bringing added value by promoting more coherent and cohesive EU external action;

Added:C. whereas Parliament’s consent is required for the entry into force of most international agreements; whereas Article 218(10) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that the European Parliament ‘shall be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure’ for the negotiations of such agreements;

Removed:D. whereas Parliament engages with elected officials and diplomats, as well as civil society representatives and other stakeholders from non-EU countries and multilateral institutions on a continuous basis, in particular through the work of its delegations and committees, including through holding hearings and country visits;

Added:D. whereas Parliament scrutinises and discusses the conduct of EU external affairs, in particular through the work of its Committee on Foreign Affairs and its two subcommittees on Human Rights and on Security and Defence, as well as through its Committees on International Trade and on Development; whereas this scrutiny role includes matters pertaining to the adoption, implementation and review of EU thematic, regional and country strategies and other policy documents, such as the EU Gender Action Plan, as well as financial assistance and appointments to senior positions within the EU’s external representation;

Removed:E. whereas the European Parliament has Liaison Offices (EPLOs) outside the EU, in New York, Addis Ababa and Jakarta, in addition to London and Washington;

Added:E. whereas Parliament, as the only EU institution directly elected by EU citizens, holds public debates in plenary and in committees and adopts reports and resolutions related to EU foreign and security policy and to the situation in non-EU countries, notably regarding human rights, and thus contributes to raising public awareness and spurring discussion both within the EU, but also in the countries concerned; whereas these reports and resolutions contribute to normative developments worldwide and are closely scrutinised by actors from non-EU countries, including governments, parliaments, and representatives of civil society and the media and may generate reactions and repercussions in these countries;

Removed:An emerging parliamentary diplomacy

Added:F. whereas Parliament has a unique network of 45 standing delegations that maintain and deepen relations with other parliaments from non-EU countries, regions and organisations; whereas such bodies often constitute the parliamentary dimension of EU bilateral agreements with such countries;

Removed:1. Welcomes Parliament’s growing role in the EU’s external action, gradually evolving from a somewhat marginal to a substantial one, combining its legislative, budgetary and scrutiny powers with multiple forms of engagement with countries and societies from outside the EU;

Added:G. whereas Parliament’s role in establishing the Union’s annual budget is pivotal in supporting the countries most in need to overcome long-term development challenges through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, as well as in addressing major humanitarian disasters and emergencies, notably by increasing humanitarian aid;

Removed:2. Highlights the distinct role and value of parliamentary diplomacy in complementing and reinforcing the visibility and impact of EU foreign and security policy, alongside the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the diplomatic services of the Member States;

Added:H. whereas promoting gender equality is an objective of the EU’s external policy; whereas all EU Member States and the European Parliament have committed to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security;

Removed:3. Regrets the fact that despite its distinctive contribution to the achievement of EU foreign policy goals, Parliament has yet to be fully recognised by the Commission, the Council and the EEAS as an integral player within the ‘Team Europe’ approach;

Added:I. whereas the European Parliament has become one of the most active parliaments in terms of its parliamentary diplomatic activity and the resources devoted to it; whereas parliamentary diplomacy contributes to the achievement of EU objectives and to the promotion of EU values, interests and policies, including at the multilateral level, thereby bringing added value by promoting more coherent and cohesive EU external action; whereas parliamentary diplomacy can enhance strategic communication and the visibility and effectiveness of decisions and implementing measures under both the EU’s CFSP and common security and defence policy (CSDP);

Removed:4. Believes, therefore, that great untapped potential exists for Parliament to further develop its diplomatic role and contribution to the achievement of EU foreign policy objectives;

Added:J. whereas by using parliamentary diplomacy, Parliament engages in dialogue with world leaders, elected officials, government representatives and diplomats, public institutions, civil society organisations and representatives, including from vulnerable and at-risk populations, and other stakeholders from non-EU countries and multilateral institutions on a continuous basis, in particular through the work of its delegations and committees, including through holding hearings, adopting reports and resolutions and carrying out country visits;

Added:K. whereas Article 36 TEU mandates that the VP/HR appear before Parliament at least twice a year to report on the current state of affairs regarding the CFSP/CSDP and to answer questions; whereas the Interinstitutional Agreement of 20 November 2002 between the European Parliament and the Council concerning access by the European Parliament to sensitive information of the Council in the field of security and defence policy needs to be updated;

Added:L. whereas Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, which is headed by the chairs of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development and includes MEPs from across the political spectrum, oversees Parliament’s efforts to support democracy beyond the EU, including with regard to election observation, mediation and dialogue; whereas through the Jean Monnet Dialogue for Peace and Democracy, Parliament brings non-EU political leaders together to promote inter-party communication and consensus building; whereas MEPs may act as special envoys and mediators for conflict prevention in certain high-tension situations worldwide;

Added:M. whereas the European Parliament assists national parliaments and international regional assemblies beyond the EU’s borders in order to improve their institutional capacity; whereas it has established an ongoing dialogue with these legislatures and regularly exchanges best practices;

Added:N. whereas Parliament is an internationally recognised election observer; whereas Parliament’s election observation delegations are embedded either in EU electoral observation missions or in international election observation missions;

Added:O. whereas political groups and individual members of Parliament enjoy a dense and wide-ranging network of contacts with political parties, parliamentarians, government officials and stakeholders from the private sector and civil society in non-EU countries, notably in EU accession countries and the EU neighbourhood;

Added:P. whereas in addition to the European Parliament’s Liaison Offices outside the EU in London and Washington, Parliament has antenna offices to the United Nations in New York, to the African Union in Addis Ababa and to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta, which have the objective of strengthening parliamentary cooperation with these multilateral organisations;

Added:Q. whereas Article 5(7) of Council Decision 2010/427/EU states that ‘Union Delegations shall have the capacity to respond to the needs of other institutions of the Union, in particular the European Parliament, in their contacts with the international organisations or third countries to which the Delegations are accredited’;

Added:Strengthening parliamentary diplomacy

Added:1. Welcomes Parliament’s growing role in the EU’s external action, which has gradually evolved into a substantial one, combining its legislative, budgetary and scrutiny powers with multiple forms of public and silent engagement with international organisations, countries, societies and individuals from outside the EU;

Added:2. Highlights the distinct role and value of EU parliamentary diplomacy in complementing and reinforcing the visibility and impact of EU foreign and security policy, alongside the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the diplomatic services and parliaments of the Member States, while preserving Parliament’s own autonomy;

Added:3. Underlines the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a means to reach out to more diverse stakeholders in partner and non-EU countries to increase awareness about EU legislation and positions, to better understand perceptions, impacts and consequences of such legislation and positions in these countries and to forge peer-to-peer alliances and solid partnerships in an increasingly complex and multipolar international context;

Added:4. Regrets the fact that, despite its distinctive contribution to the achievement of EU foreign and security policy goals, as well as the added value and complementarity of parliamentary diplomacy, Parliament has yet to be fully recognised by the Commission, the Council and the EEAS as an integral player within the ‘Team Europe’ approach;

Added:5. Believes that great untapped potential exists for Parliament to further develop its diplomatic role and contribution to the achievement of EU foreign and security policy objectives;

Tools, means and values of parliamentary diplomacy

Change 2

Changed:5.6. Highlights Parliament’s specific, dynamic and public contribution to the EU’s foreign and security policy and to tackling global challenges through the work of its committees working on external affairs, including the subcommittees on Human Rights and on Security and Defence, which contribute to relations with non-EU countriescountries, international organisations and internationalcivil organisations;society worldwide;

Change 3

Changed:6. Notes that, under the overall oversight7. ofStresses thethat Committeestanding ondelegations Foreignprovide Affairs,important standingand delegationscomplementary complementwork theto workthat of the committees by establishing a regular and sustained forum for political dialogue with non-EU countries,countries and international organisations, including through joint parliamentary bodies and multilateral assemblies;

Change 4

Changed:7.8. Highlights that the standing delegations play a key role as a relay between Parliament and its partners around the world, facilitating interaction, consistently providing information to committees and other Parliament bodies, debating positions and policies of common interest, and also listening to different partners and other stakeholders and conveying their views to the competent bodies within Parliament;

Change 5

Changed:8.9. Considers that Parliament’s official missions outside the EU form an integral part of EU external policy,policy whichand must therefore enjoy the full support of the EU delegations;delegations, as well as the highest level of information and security from the EEAS in this regard; calls for the EEAS Crisis Response Centre to be provided with all necessary resources; considers that better coordination, planning and priority-setting for the missions between the different Parliament bodies would increase the consistency, credibility and impact of Parliament’s diplomatic role;

Change 6

Removed:9. Believes that the political dialogue carried out by Parliament with governmental, parliamentary and civil society actors across the world contributes to promoting EU views and values on global standards in areas such as climate and energy diplomacy, connectivity, artificial intelligence and digital and technological policies;

Added:10. Suggests that the relevant Parliament bodies set up internal coordination by, among other actions, periodically drafting a list of priority countries with whom to engage, based on upcoming legislative files and geopolitical or strategic priorities, by holding joint exchanges of views with these priority countries on EU relations or on horizontal geopolitical or conflict issues, and by fostering synergies between Parliament’s missions abroad to avoid unnecessary duplication, streamline resources and improve consistency in Parliament’s messages;

Removed:10. Stresses the consistent dedication of Parliament to placing human rights and democracy at the heart of EU external action and providing a key forum in which to hear and amplify the voice of civil society and democratic actors from around the world;