7. The Growing Role of the European Parliament as an EU Foreign Policy Actor

The European Parliament has developed important foreign policy powers through, variously, its role as co-legislator in areas that are part of EU external action (trade, cooperation with third countries, humanitarian aid) or internal policies with external dimensions, its assent powers regarding international agreements between the EU and third parties, and its budgetary powers, including for CFSP administrative and operational expenditure, but also through its agenda-setting powers as a political actor, its scrutiny powers, particularly in relation to policy implementation, and through its evermore extensive parliamentary diplomacy activities. The Parliament seeks continued institutional autonomy and defends its prerogatives but also promotes the need for a more integrated overall approach to EU foreign and security policy that includes a parliamentary pillar.