Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) - European Parliament

On Monday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will make his first official visit to the European Parliament since taking office on 1 October 2024.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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AMENDMENTS 15 - 104 - Draft opinion Macro-financial assistance to the Arab Republic of Egypt
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Tineke Strik

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This study explores the role and enhancement of parliamentary capacities in the European Union (EU) enlargement process, focusing on the EU’s evolving accession methodology and its emphasis on the ‘fundamentals’ approach. It examines the European Commission’s criteria for ‘functioning democratic institutions’ in accession countries and evaluates the effectiveness of support measures from EU institutions, Member States, and international organisations. Based on desk research, mapping, and over 90 expert and stakeholder interviews, the study analyses EU democracy support initiatives for parliaments in 10 enlargement countries, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Kosovo. The study highlights best practices and identifies challenges that require increased attention from the European Parliament and the core actors involved in parliamentary capacity-building. While past efforts by the European Parliament, Member States, and international organisations have strengthened parliaments in these countries, ongoing democratic backsliding calls for more coherent and concerted action. The European Parliament and its Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) play a crucial role in addressing these challenges.
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Commitments made at the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate 2024-2029
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On 13 January, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will participate in his first exchange of views with Members of AFET and SEDE as well as in association with the Delegation for relations with the NATO PA (DNAT). Discussion topics will include EU-NATO cooperation, efforts to strengthen NATO defence and deterrence, Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and its implications for transatlantic relations as well as other regional and global security threats and common challenges.
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On 14 January, Marta Kos, the new Commissioner for Enlargement, will discuss with AFET Members the next steps in EU enlargement and other issues related to her portfolio. There is currently a renewed momentum for enlargement, which represents a historic opportunity with significant socio-economic, political and security advantages for both the EU and the enlargement countries.
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Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

A seven-member strong delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) travelled to the United Kingdom from 28 to 30 October 2024. This was the first official visit of the Committee abroad in this parliamentary term. The delegation discussed possibilities for strengthening of the EU-UK partnership, in particular in foreign and security affairs.
This visit was also an opportunity to exchange views on issues of global and regional significance such as the Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Press announcement
Programme : [EN]
Mission report
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DRAFT OPINION on the guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Michael Gahler

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On Wednesday morning, the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili delivered a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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On Wednesday at 8.30 CET, the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili will give a speech to MEPs at the hemicycle in Strasbourg.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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President Metsola presented the Sakharov Prize 2024 to Venezuela’s Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado at a ceremony on Tuesday in Strasbourg.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

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AMENDMENTS 1 - 45 - Draft opinion 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - Commission
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Michael Gahler

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Next AFET committee meetings will be held on:

• Monday 13 January 2025, 15.00-18.30 - Antall (2Q2), Brussels

AFET-SEDE-DROI calendar of meetings 2025
Meeting documents
Webstreaming
Commissioners-designate hearings
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AMENDMENTS 1 - 43 - Draft opinion 2023 discharge: General budget of the EU - European External Action Service
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Michael Gahler

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AMENDMENTS 1 - 62 - Draft opinion Macro-financial assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Malik Azmani

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Length of video : 66'

Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
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On Monday, 16 December, the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Development and the Subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a joint exchange of views with the 2024 Sakharov Prize laureates María Corina Machado, leader of the democratic forces in Venezuela and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country fighting to restore freedom and democracy.
In 2023, Ms Machado was selected as the opposition's candidate for the 2024 presidential election but was later disqualified by Maduro's regime. Mr González Urrutia, a diplomat and politician who succeeded her as the opposition's candidate, contested Mr Maduro's fraudulent victory. Mr González Urrutia left the country in September after a warrant was issued to arrest him. Facing persecution, Ms Machado went into hiding.
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