According to art. 25 of the Treaty of Nice, the Political and
Security Committee controls the international situation in the
foreign policy and common security sectors, and contributes to
defining policies by formulating rulings for the Council and,
later, by verifying their carrying out. Under the responsibility
of the Council, it also exercises political control on the strategic
direction of operations dealing with the handling of crises.
In the carrying out of these activities, as established in the
provisions adopted by the European Council of Nice of December
6th and 7th, 2000, and further specified in the Council decision
of January 22nd, 2001, COPS examines, for the aspects of its competence,
the projects of the Council’s conclusions; it supplies guidelines
for matters regarding the CFSP to the other Committees; it is
a privileged communication partner of the Secretary General/High
Representative and of the Special Representatives; it addresses
directives to the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) and
to the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management, from
which it receives rulings; and, finally, it coordinates, at its
prescribed level and in the expected formats, political dialogue
with third countries and other international organizations. It
is NATO’s privileged dialogue partner on ESDP and has, under
the authority of the Council, responsibility for the political
direction of the development of military capacities, utilizing
the rulings of the Military Committee assisted by European Staff
Headquarters.
As already indicated in the conclusion of the European Council
of Helsinki, COPS is the “hinge” of the European Security
and Defense Policy (ESDP) and of the Common Foreign and Security
Policy (CFSP). It is composed of officials having the rank of
Ambassador and it usually meets twice a week, with more frequent
convocations if necessary. It can be chaired, in case of special
crises, by the Secretary General/High Representative.
