The European Parliament is kept regularly informed by the Council Presidency and the Commission about the CFSP developments. There is an ongoing dialogue on topical foreign affairs issues between the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy and the Commission. The committee holds regular discussions with the Council Presidency to ensure that the European Parliament's views are 'duly taken into consideration' by the Council. Members of the European Parliament may also participate in European Union delegations at international conferences. A question time on foreign and security policy is held at each monthly part session.
Parliament has subcommittees which deal with human rights, security and disarmament.
It maintains contacts with many non Community countries through its interparliamentary delegations. Observer delegations have been sent to monitor elections in Russia and the Palestinian Territories. Parliament regularly raises human rights violations and comments on current international crises in its emergency debates. It has repeatedly called on the Member States to adopt a consistent common position. Parliamentarians have a particular interest in Central and Eastern Europe's accession to the EU, the peace process in the former Yugoslavia and stability and security in the Mediterranean region.