View source for Political and Security Committee

{{Short description|Permanent body within the European Union}}
{{also|Committee of Permanent Representatives}}
{{Politics of the European Union}}
The '''Political and Security Committee''' ('''PSC'''; sometimes referred to by its French ''COPS'' acronym derived from ''Comité politique et de sécurité'') is a permanent body within the [[European Union]] dealing with [[Common Foreign and Security Policy]] issues, including [[Common Security and Defence Policy]].<ref name="Europa Glossary PSC">[http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/political_security_committee_en.htm Europa glossary: Political and Security Committee (PSC)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309100428/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/political_security_committee_en.htm |date=2008-03-09 }}, accessed on April 21, 2008</ref>

PSC, which is based in [[Brussels]], consists of [[ambassador]]ial-level representatives from all the EU Member States and usually meets twice per week.<ref name="France MoFA PSC">[http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/european-union_157/eu-in-the-world_1491/common-foreign-and-security-policy_5463/operation-of-the-cfsp_5467/the-main-bodies-specific-to-the-cfsp_5472/the-political-and-security-committee_8754.html France-Diplomatie: The main bodies specific to the CFSP: The Political and Security Committee], accessed on April 21, 2008</ref> The PSC is chaired by the [[European External Action Service]] (EEAS).

==Functions==
The main functions of the PSC are keeping track of the international situation, and helping to define EU policies within the CFSP and CSDP.<ref>[http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.asp?id=279&lang=EN&mode=g The Council of the European Union: ESDP Structures], accessed on April 21, 2008</ref> PSC sends guidance to, and receives advice from the [[European Union Military Committee]] (EUMC), the [[Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management]] (CIVCOM) as well as the [[European Union Institute for Security Studies]]. It is also a forum for dialogue on CSDP matters between the EU Member States.

The PSC drafts opinions for the [[Foreign Affairs Council]], which is one of the configurations of the [[Council of the European Union]]. CFSP matters are passed to the Foreign Affairs Council via [[COREPER]] II.

===Role in command and control of missions===
{{Further|Command and control structure of the European Union}}
{{European Union command and control structure}}

== History ==
[[File:Deputy Secretary Sherman Meets With the EU Political and Security Committee (51816825196).jpg|thumb|The Political and Security Committee meets in January 2022 to discuss the [[2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis]]]]
The creation of the PSC was a result of the [[Treaty of Amsterdam]], after which the establishment of the PSC was agreed in principle in December 1999, at the [[Helsinki]] European Council. PSC was first established as an interim body in 2000. In December 2000, at the [[Nice]] [[European Council]] it was agreed to make it permanent.<ref name="Europa Glossary PSC"/> The formal decision to set up the PSC was taken on January 22, 2001, by the [[Council of the European Union]].<ref>[http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/r00005.htm Activities of the European Union: Summaries of Legislation: Political and Security Committee (PSC)], accessed on April 21, 2008</ref>

The PSC replaced the previous Political Committee, which met less frequently, and consisted of representatives from the Member States' capitals rather than Brussels-based ambassadors.<ref name="France MoFA PSC"/>

On 22 March 2021, the committee was [[Chinese sanctions|sanctioned]] by the Chinese government after the European Union imposed sanctions on China over [[Xinjiang]].

== Chair ==
In 2010 Ambassador [[Olof Skoog]] (Sweden) was appointed by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to serve as the first Permanent Chair of the EU Political and Security Committee.  He served until September 2013 when he was replaced by Walter Stevens (Belgium).

==See also==
*[[Common Security and Defence Policy]]
*[[European External Action Service]]
*[[Military of the European Union]]
*[[European Union Military Committee]]
*[[European Union Military Staff]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/preparatory-bodies/political-security-committee/ Political and Security Committee]
* [https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/crisis-response/5392/csdp-structure-instruments-and-agencies_en CSDP structure, instruments, and agencies], EEAS website
* [http://europa.eu/whoiswho/public/index.cfm?fuseaction=idea.hierarchy&nodeID=280129 EUMS - European Union Military Staff], EU Whoiswho
* [https://www.coe-civ.eu/ European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management] 

{{Foreign relations of the European Union 2}}
{{Common Security and Defence Policy}}

[[Category:Common Security and Defence Policy bodies of the Council of the European Union]]
[[Category:European External Action Service| ]]
[[Category:European Union entities subject to Chinese sanctions]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of the European Union]]
[[Category:European Union security policy]]
[[Category:Military of the European Union]]
[[Category:Common Security and Defence Policy]]