Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) - European Parliament

Disinformation is an endemic and ubiquitous part of politics throughout the Western Balkans, without exception. A mapping of the disinformation and counter-disinformation landscapes in the region in the period from 2018 through 2020 reveals three key disinformation challenges: external challenges to EU credibility; disinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the impact of disinformation on elections and referenda. While foreign actors feature prominently – chiefly Russia, but also China, Turkey, and other countries in and near the region – the bulk of disinformation in the Western Balkans is produced and disseminated by domestic actors for domestic purposes. Further, disinformation (and information disorder more broadly) is a symptom of social and political disorder, rather than the cause. As a result, the European Union should focus on the role that it can play in bolstering the quality of democracy and governance in the Western Balkans, as the most powerful potential bulwark against disinformation.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 116'

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, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 126'

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, 2020 - EP

REPORT on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Michael Gahler

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 488 - Draft report Implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy – annual report
Committee on Foreign Affairs
David McAllister

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 121'

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, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 64'

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, 2020 - 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, 2020 - EP

On 9 November, the Committe on Foreign Affairs will hold an exchange of views with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This is the first time Mr Lazzarini will hold an exchange of views in AFET after his appointment as Commissioner General in March 2020.
The exchange will give MEPs the opportunity to discuss the assistance provided by UNRWA to Palestinian refugee Communities in the occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria as well as UNRWA's longer-term budgetary needs and UNRWA's process of reforms.
Webstreaming
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

AMENDMENTS 285 - 454 - Draft report Implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy - annual report 2019
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Sven Mikser

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 284 - Draft report Implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy - annual report 2019
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Sven Mikser

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), spearheaded by the European Union (EU), was a successful multilateral non-proliferation agreement. The hope was that it would also pave the way for dealing with other outstanding issues over which the EU and United States (US) were at loggerheads with Iran. Instead, with the election of President Trump, the main focus has been to save the JCPOA. As Iran has decreased its compliance with the deal and regional friction has intensified, particularly as a result of the US maximum pressure campaign, the EU has faced increasing challenges to maintain a working relationship with Tehran and to pursue its strategic objectives on Iran – a tall order even in more conducive circumstances. While the outcome of the US presidential elections in November 2020 will affect developments thereafter, the EU should shape its policy independent of a rturn to constructive multilateralism in Washington. It must further develop its strategic autonomy, enhance and expand its interaction with Tehran to ensure the JCPOA’s survival, while also taking a more proactive role in mitigating and mediating conflicts in the region.
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on Connectivity and EU-Asia relations
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Reinhard Bütikofer

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

"In the context of the exponential growth of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the President of the European Parliament has announced a number of measures to contain the spread of epidemic and to safeguard Parliament's core activities.

The current precautionary measures adopted by the European Parliament to contain the spread of COVID-19 do not affect work on legislative priorities. Core activities are reduced, but maintained to ensure that the institution's legislative, budgetary, scrutiny functions are maintained.

The meetings will be with remote participation for Members (being able to view and listen to proceedings, ask for the floor and intervene in the meeting). Other participants are invited to follow the meeting through webstreaming.

Following these decisions, the next ordinary AFET Committee meetings will take place on 9 and 19 November (via videoconference).

New Calendar 2020
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 317 - Draft report Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2019 and the European Union’s policy on the matter - annual report 2019
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Isabel Santos

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 120'

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, 2020 - EP

AMENDMENTS 318 - 597 - Draft report Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2019 and the European Union’s policy on the matter - annual report 2019
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Isabel Santos

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP