Fra:
POLASKOVA Jitka [mailto:[email protected]]
Sendt:
15. april 2015 17:16
Emne:
Invitation to LIBE ICM on the Democratic oversight of intelligence services in the European Union
(28-29 May 2015): Draft agenda
Dear all,
As you are already aware, the LIBE Committee is inviting Members of national Parliaments of the EU
Member States, Norway and Switzerland to an interparliamentary committee meeting on the
Democratic
oversight of intelligence services in the European Union.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, 28 May from 9.00 - 12.30 and from 14.30 - 18.00 (followed by a
cocktail reception) and on Friday, 29 May from 9.00 - 12.00 at the European Parliament, József Antall
building, room 2Q2.
Attached, please find a first draft agenda which is still provisional and may evolve over the coming weeks.
Official invitation letter will be sent out soon but we would be grateful if you could already start circulating the
draft agenda to ensure the participation of interested Members of your Parliament.
Purpose of the meeting
The meeting aims at bringing together Members of national Parliament's committees responsible for the
oversight of intelligence services, as well as members of national expert bodies that are competent for the
oversight over intelligence services, where such bodies exist, and Members of committees of inquiry that
have dealt with the behaviour of intelligence services to discuss the existing challenges for such oversight
bodies and to exchange best practices.
Recent events in Paris, Brussels or Copenhagen, as well as the phenomenon of EU citizens traveling to
Syria and Iraq have shown the urgent need to strengthen cooperation and exchange information between
Member States' intelligence services. This reinforced cooperation should however go hand in hand with a
closer cooperation between bodies responsible for the democratic oversight of such activities and the
respect of the rule of law in this field. This interparliamentary committee meeting will be an opportunity to
foster such cooperation between oversight bodies, and to revive the tradition of regular meetings between
national oversight bodies after the 2011 conference in Berlin and the 2010 event in Brussels.
In the course of the inquiry leading to the adoption of the
Resolution of 12 March 2014
on the mass
electronic surveillance of EU citizens, the European Parliament highlighted the need to further strengthen
cooperation among oversight bodies. This finding was reflected in paragraph 133 of the Resolution which
invited the European Parliament to support the organisation of a conference with the intelligence oversight
bodies of national parliaments of the European Union.
Practical details
Up to four Members of the relevant committee(s) from each national Parliament (two for each Chamber in
case of bicameral Parliaments) are cordially invited to attend the event.
The link to the on-line registration as well as other practical details will follow in due course.
Many thanks for your cooperation and please, don't hesitate to contact me or Patrizia Di Leo if you have any
further questions.
Best wishes,
Jitka
Jitka POLÁŠKOVÁ
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments
Legislative Dialogue Unit
Administrator for a parliamentary body