On 18 December, MEPs voted to establish two new standing and two special committees in the European Parliament.
The existing subcommittees on Security and Defence (SEDE) and on Public Health have been transformed into fully-fledged committees, while Parliament will also introduce a subcommittee on the so-called “Democracy Shield” initiative included in the Commission’s 2024-2029 political guidelines, and another subcommittee to deal with the EU’s current housing crisis.
The SEDE Committee, chaired by Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, becomes a real legislative body while the new special Committee on the European Democracy Shield will tackle malicious interference in democratic processes in the Union.
"We finally have a deal that will allow for the upgrading of crucial existing committees and the establishment of vital new committees to reflect the new challenges the EU faces and the concerns of our citizens. With HR/VP Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Michael McGrath in key posts in the European Commission and these crucial roles in the Parliament, our future security and our Union’s democratic integrity are in safe liberal hands,” said Billy Kelleher MEP, First Vice-President of Renew Europe.
"This decision follows the parliamentary initiative to give the issue of security and defence the attention it deserves in these crisis-ridden times. As a full committee, SEDE will work to intensively strengthen the European security architecture and make it fit for the future. We will establish the new SEDE as a strong supervisory body and driving force in the field of European security and defence policy," added Strack-Zimmermann.