Mr. Costas Mavrides, a Member of the European Parliament and the S&D group, chairs the Political Affairs, Security & Human Rights committee. The committee monitors the current security and human rights situation in the Mediterranean region. In the past, the committee has focused on the threat of violent extremism to the region, recommended ways to enhance political cooperation between the member countries and monitored the situation in Syria. The commitee also established a working group on Palestine.  The Purpose of the PA-UfM Palestine Working Group is to support the emergence of an independent, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian State living side by side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours.