5.2.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 33/186

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having regard to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular to Articles 9 and 10 of Protocol 1 thereto on the role of national parliaments in the European Union,

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having regard to its position of 8 July 2010 on the proposal for a Council decision establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (1) and to the annexed declaration by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on political accountability (2),

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having regard to its resolution of 11 May 2011 on the annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and basic choices of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in 2009, presented to the European Parliament in application of Part II, Section G, paragraph 43 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 (3), and in particular to paragraph 18 of that resolution,

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having regard to its resolution of 11 May 2011 on the development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (4), and in particular to paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 thereof,

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having regard to the Conference of Speakers of the Parliaments of the EU held in Brussels on 4 and 5 April 2011,

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having regard to the contribution and conclusions of the XLV COSAC meeting held in Budapest from 29 to 31 May 2011,

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having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.

whereas Article 9 of Protocol 1 stipulates that the organisation and promotion of any form of effective and regular interparliamentary cooperation must be determined jointly by the European Parliament and national parliaments,

B.

whereas, as a member of the College of Commissioners, the VP/HR is subject to a vote of consent by the European Parliament,

C.

whereas the European Parliament codecides with the Council on the EU budget for external action, including the budget for CFSP and CSDP civilian missions and the administrative costs arising from EU military coordination,

D.

whereas, in accordance with the Treaty, the European Parliament is regularly consulted on the main aspects and basic choices of the CFSP and whereas its consent is required in order to translate EU strategies into laws and to conclude international agreements, including agreements relating mainly to the CFSP, the one exception being agreements relating solely to the CFSP,

1.

Recalls that the European Parliament is a source of democratic legitimacy for the CFSP and the CSDP, over which it exercises political scrutiny;

2.

Is convinced at the same time that strengthened interparliamentary cooperation in the area of CFSP and CSDP would reinforce parliamentary influence over the political choices made by the EU and its States, owing to the European Parliament's responsibilities for the common policies of the Union, including the CFSP/CSDP, and to the prerogatives each national parliament enjoys in national security and defence policy decisions;

3.

Regrets the lack of agreement at the EU Speakers’ Conference of 4 and 5 April 2011 and looks forward to supporting the efforts of the Polish Presidency to reach an agreement between the European Parliament and national parliaments on new forms of interparliamentary cooperation in this field;

4.

Confirms its position as set out in the relevant reports, and in particular:

5.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Polish Presidency of the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments, the Presidents of the parliaments of the EU and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.