The department oversees the Parliamentary Committees on:
- Constitutional Affairs
- Legal Affairs
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home affairs
- Petitions
The department contributes to the S&D Group's effectiveness on these committees through:
- assisting our MEPs in preparing legislative and non-legislative texts and amendments
- negotiating Parliamentary texts with other Parliamentary groups, working with or on behalf of S&D MEPs
- providing briefings, background notes and research on legislative and political issues
- helping co-ordinate a common approach between MEPs working on different Parliamentary committees
- providing organisational support to S&D MEPs: organising meetings, providing information and keeping them informed about the relevant activities of the European Commission and Council of Ministers
- advising our MEPs and staff on matters concerning EU internal policies
- liaising with trade unions, NGOs and other civil society organisations
- liaising with our press and communications team and responding to queries from the public, in order to ensure the fullest transparency in the Group's work
- organising events and preparing publications related to the Group's work.
The department is also responsible for the S&D Working Groups on:
- Digital Europe
- Extremism, Populism, Nationalism and Xenophobia
More generally, this department is responsible for long-term strategic and political planning, and overall for relations with:
- National parliaments
- Trade unions and civil society (including Non-Governmental Organisations)
- Forums such as the Committee of the Regions
- Sister organisations such as the Party of European Socialists, and the Progressive Alliance
- Foundations including the Foundation for European Progressive Studies.
The current head of this department and deputy secretary general is Frazer Clarke.
