EU Parliament: Constituent meeting of the upgraded Defense Committee

The German FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann was elected Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Security and Defense (SEDE) at its constituent meeting on Monday. However, the exact responsibilities of the committee are being discussed behind the scenes.

“I am very pleased that the constituent meeting of SEDE as the new full committee of the European Parliament was a success today. The Parliament is thus taking into account the enormously increased importance of European security and defense policy,” said Strack-Zimmermann, who was Chair of the Defense Committee in the German Bundestag from 2021 to 2024, following her election. Parliament decided in December to upgrade the subcommittee to a fully-fledged committee.

Strack-Zimmermann emphasized that her committee should play a “comprehensive role” in all matters concerning the European Parliament. In her view, this means as a political observer, as a budgetary actor, but also as a legislator. She also explicitly mentioned the European Defense Industrial Program, EDIP.

From the outset, there were differences over the structure of SEDE and its competencies. The Industry Committee ITRE and the Foreign Affairs Committee AFET do not want to relinquish responsibility for the deliberations on the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP). This is the most important piece of defense legislation at the European level.

It is also not clear who is allowed to provide input for the White Paper of the EU Commissioner for Defense, Andrius Kubilius. Here, too, there are reportedly disputes between AFET and SEDE. An exchange between Kubilius and the newly upgraded committee on the White Paper is to take place today. It is to be presented on March 11. wp/sti