Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) - European Parliament

A delegation of AFET Members travelled to Mexico and Costa Rica from 31 October to 2 November 2023 to discuss bilateral cooperation and ongoing geopolitical challenges. During their visit Members met with parliamentary counterparts, government representatives of both countries and non-governmental organisations.

In Mexico, they discussed joint efforts to boost the EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership, ongoing work to conclude the modernised Global Agreement between the EU and Mexico and security and migration crises. In Costa Rica the focus of discussions was on the EU-Costa Rica bilateral and multilateral cooperation, geopolitical, security and migration challenges, Costa Rica's region role in Central America, the EU's Global Gateway initiative, and parliamentary ties.

Location : Mexico and Costa Rica
European Parliament News
Mission report
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

A delegation of AFET Members traveled to the UK from 18 to 19 September 2023. This was the first time that the committee traveled to the UK since 31 January 2020 when the United Kingdom officially left the EU. The AFET delegation discussed possibilities for strengthened partnership and deepening dialogue on issues of importance in relevant areas of bilateral cooperation, including in foreign and security affairs.
This visit was also be opportunity to exchange views on issues of significance to Northern Ireland, particularly in the context of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol and the Windsor Framework.
Mission report
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

A delegation of AFET members traveled to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from 21 to 25 August 2023. The AFET delegation discussed the regional developments and the potential for closer cooperation in the current challenging geopolitical context, including the impact of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the introduction of EU sanctions on Russia.
Location : Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Press release
Mission report
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

To evaluate the European Union’s (EU) policy framework towards China, this study analyses the varied facets of bilateral relations and the EU’s approach towards China, including its policy of de-risking, together with issues relating to China’s domestic politics and foreign policy. It highlights the need for the EU to adopt a coherent vision and a comprehensive and consistent long-term China strategy that can guide its future actions towards China and on the world stage. Based on its findings, it also provides a series of specific recommendations for the EU on the numerous topics analysed in the study.
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

OPINION on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive (EU) 2015/637 on the coordination and cooperation measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries and Directive (EU) 2019/997 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Nacho Sánchez Amor

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Members of the AFET Committee will meet on:

Tuesday 9 April 2024 in ANTALL (4Q2) Brussels

Meetings are webstreamed with the exception of items held "in camera".
AFET-SEDE-DROI calendar of meetings 2024
Meeting documents
Webstreaming
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Length of video : 57'

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.
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Length of video : 98'

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.
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Length of video : 58'

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.
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Wednesday, 20 March, Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a presentation, by the authors, of an in-depth analysis on Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan and the Kyiv security compact.
Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan and the Kyiv Security Compact – An assessment - in-depth analysis
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Tuesday, 19 March, Foreign Affairs Committee will have an exchange of views with several Ministers, vice-Ministers and Secretaries of State of EU Member States on EU enlargement policy ahead of the European Council meeting end of March. This exchange of views is intended to hear the different opinions on the topic and to gather ideas to deal with the challenges the EU enlargement policy will face in the future.
Press release: Foreign Affairs Committee and EU ministers debate enlargement
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Tuesday, MEPs on the Committee on Foreign Affairs will discuss the future of EU enlargement with ministers, vice-ministers and secretaries of state of EU member states.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Monday 11 March, the committees on Foreign Affairs and on Budgets will vote on a draft report on the Commission's proposal for Establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. The draft report prepared jointly by the two committees proposes more safeguards for the “fundamentals-first approach”, strengthening the focus on rule of law and conditionality and linking this with economic and social development.
The proposal also aims to ensure that the Western Balkans Facility does not allow for overlaps or double-funding with the existing IPA III instrument. If the draft report is adopted Members will vote to enter into interinstitutional negotiations with the Council.
Establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans - procedural page
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On Thursday, 22 February, Foreign Affairs Committee and its subcommittee on Human Rights will hold a debate with Russian opposition. Following the inhuman detention and death of Sakharov Price Laureate Alexei Navalny, MEPs will hear the testimonies of:

• Leonid Volkov, Chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, Anti-Corruption Foundation (remotely);
• Evgenia Kara-Murza, Advocacy Director at the Free Russia Foundation, wife of political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza;
• Vladimir Milov, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia.

Webstreaming of the meeting
Press statement: “Alexei Navalny gave us an incredible example of courage” (16.02.2024)
Press release: “Sakharov Prize 2021: Parliament honours Alexei Navalny” (15.12.2021)
Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP