Tasks and responsibilities

The Foreign Policy Committee differs from the Standing Committees of the Danish Parliament because it is regulated by the Constitutional Act of Denmark. The Constitutional Act stipulates that the Government is responsible for Denmark’s foreign policy, but that the Government must consult the Committee in matters of major importance to foreign policy. This typically concerns current issues such as Denmark’s participation in international military operations, security policy issues in the Middle East, etc. Consultation also takes place before and after meetings of the European Council.

Specific rules about the functions of the Committee are laid down in the Act on the Foreign Policy Committee. The Act states that the Government’s consultative duty implies that the Committee must discuss matters of importance to Denmark’s foreign policy with the Government, and that the Committee must receive information from the Government on matters concerning foreign policy. Committee members therefore receive memos on current matters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports from Danish embassies, etc.

Other functions of the Committee

Committee members may also put written questions to the Government. These questions are answered orally at the next ordinary meeting of the Foreign Policy Committee. Committee members are also invited to meetings with foreign parliamentarians or members of governments visiting Denmark. Finally, the Foreign Policy Committee may arrange hearings concerning cases of major importance and set up meetings with experts, etc., to discuss current issues in detail.

Foreign affairs and security policy

The Foreign Policy Committee is concerned with a range of security policy and defence policy issues. Thus, the Foreign Policy Committee takes an interest in matters falling under the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Defence Committee as well. Whereas the Government draws on the Foreign Policy Committee for consultation on a given matter, the Danish Parliament relies on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Defence Committee to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of the Government in foreign policy issues.

Confidentiality

The consultation between the Government and the Committee is not open to the public, and the members of the Committee are obliged to maintain confidentiality with respect to information received at or in connection with meetings of the Foreign Policy Committee.