The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) - annual report.
In a context where the EU's strategic environment is deteriorating, Members insisted on the need for a stronger Europe that acts on its external relations in a unified manner in order to face the multiple challenges that directly or indirectly affect the security of its Member States: armed conflicts immediately to the east and south of the European continent and fragile states; terrorism – and in particular Jihadism –, cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns; foreign interference in European political and electoral processes, challenges to arms non-proliferation agreements, increased forced displacement and uncontrolled migration flows, strains on Member States' energy supplies and climate change.
Multilateralism at stake: urgent need for a stronger and more united Europe
At a time when competing powers are increasingly challenging the rules-based global order, Members believe that Europe must defend universal values, rules and principles – in particular multilateralism, international law, the rule of law, democracy, respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, free and fair trade, non-violent conflict resolution and shared European interests – both outside and inside the EU.
The report stressed that multilateralism is the cornerstone of the Union's foreign and security policy and should be the cornerstone of the Union's efforts to prevent, mitigate and resolve conflicts by upholding the norms and principles of international law.
While expressing regret that the United States is gradually withdrawing from the rules-based multilateral global order, Members stressed that the transatlantic partnership remains indispensable for security and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.
They called for an EU foreign policy that unites the European institutions and Member States around a strong common foreign policy at Union level to give it more credibility.
The report stressed the urgent need to increase the EU’s resilience and independence by reinforcing the CFSP that is committed to peace, regional and international security, human rights, social justice, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in the EU, its neighbourhood and throughout the world. It expressed its support for the Commission President's decision to transform the EU executive into a "geopolitical Commission" aspiring to become a credible external actor that will systematically address external policy issues.
Reinforcing the European Parliament as a pillar of the CFSP
Members stressed that the only way for the European Union to deliver its potential is to act and speak with one voice and to gradually bring decision-making from national to supranational level, making full use of the possibilities offered by the European treaties, and respecting the principle of subsidiarity and the competences of the Member States. The European Union should use all available means to achieve this objective, including those offered by parliamentary diplomacy.
In this respect, the report stressed Parliament's powers of supervision and control and called for greater attention to be paid to its reports and resolutions. It stressed the importance of parliamentary assemblies as forums for cooperation and institutional dialogue and highlighted the essential role of EU election observation missions.
Members called for comprehensive information sharing between the Commission and the EEAS to enable Parliament to exercise its scrutiny function effectively, including in the area of CFSP. They called for the strengthening of parliamentary scrutiny and oversight roles over the EU's external action, including in the context of the negotiation process for the future agreement with the United Kingdom. They also called for an increased role of Parliament during the scrutiny and steering of all EU external instruments, including the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for the period 2021-2027 (IPA III).
Strengthening the CFSP to counter global threats
Members considered that qualified majority voting (QMV) would make the EU’s foreign and security policy more effective and would speed up the decision-making process. They called on the Council to make regular use of QMV in the cases envisaged in Article 31(2) of the TEU and on the Council to take up this initiative by making use of the ‘passerelle clause’ contained in Article 31(3) of the TEU. They support a European debate on new formats, such as a European Security Council.
The report called for the strengthening of the capacity of the Union and its Member States to act autonomously in the fields of security and defence, while underlining the important role of NATO, one of the pillars of European security.
In particular, Members recommended: