Tasks and responsibilities

The Intelligence Services Committee is a special committee established by law in 1988 to supervise the intelligence services of the Danish police and defence (The Danish Security and Intelligence Service and Danish Defence Intelligence Service).

The Committee consists of five Members of Parliament (MPs) appointed by the political parties represented in the Presidium of the Danish Parliament. The Committee elects a chairperson from its midst. Any committee member may request a meeting to be held in the Committee. Additionally, discussions in the Committee may take place at the request of the Government.

The Government must inform the Committee on the guidelines governing the activities of the intelligence services. Furthermore, the Government must brief the Committee about substantive security or foreign policy issues affecting the activities of the intelligence services. Such briefing is subject to the special conditions applying to intelligence services and their activities.

Committee members and the Committee’s secretary are obliged to observe confidentiality with respect to information received in the course of their work in the Committee.