European Union

Extraordinary plenary session and committee meetings, Brussels

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Five decades after his prescient wartime exposé of the Khmer Rouge, Ith Sarin resurfaces to shed new light on his life ahead of the publication of a new translation.

We replied to those who took the time to write to the President.

Main elements of our reply Violence in north‑east Syria may amount to war crimes

In its resolution of 12 February 2026 on the situation in north‑east Syria, the European Parliament expresses concern over credible reports of human rights violations, particularly against the Kurdish population – which may constitute war crimes.

Parliament calls for swift investigations into crimes against civilians by government forces and militias, and urges the Syrian authorities to grant full access to UN bodies.

The European Parliament welcomes the agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian transitional government, calling on all parties to respect the ceasefire. It denounces Turkey’s continued military intervention in north‑east Syria.

Parliament recalls the decisive contribution of Kurdish forces against Daesh and expresses grave concern over Daesh fighters who have escaped from detention.

It calls on Syrian authorities to protect all ethnic and religious communities, ensuring full recognition, participation and rights for Kurds.

A press release about this resolution is available on the European Parliament’s website. Parliament also adopted resolutions on Syria and the Kurdish community in May 2025, July 2025 and January 2026, during its current mandate.

European Union foreign policy

Although the European Parliament takes political positions on world developments, it is the governments of EU countries that decide the EU’s common foreign and security policy in both the European Council (heads of government) and the Council of the EU (government ministers). The European External Action Service, led by High Representative Kaja Kallas, implements the EU’s foreign and security policy.

Background

Citizens often send messages to the President of the European Parliament expressing their views and/or requesting action. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP) within the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) replies to these messages, which may sometimes be identical as part of wider public campaigns.

While Beijing publicly advocates restraint, sustained tensions between the U.S. and Iran serve its strategic interests.

While restraint remains the order of the day, recent developments suggest that rival nations' maritime "red lines" are hardening.

Pakistan’s goal should not be to replace India in Bangladesh, but to foster a relationship based on sovereign equality.

Jakarta will cut trade barriers on more than 99 percent of American imports, in exchange for tariff exemptions for certain key goods.

A host of new initiatives are helping to inoculate Southeast Asia's largest nation against China’s fintech dominance.

The move came a day after Sara Duterte officially announced her intention to run for the presidency in 2028.

Chinese official statements and comments from academics reflect a clear assessment that the polls have not altered the fundamental structure of bilateral relations.

Already, Tarique Rahman has made clear that Bangladesh’s interests would guide foreign policy. China, India, and the United States are recalibrating their approaches accordingly. 

With discussions on a possible new, flexible, regional platform with Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is seeking to build backup security channels in a dynamic region.

The country has rushed to embrace artificial intelligence. Its impacts on jobs, the electrical grid, and water availability need to be taken into account.

The purges carry real implications for China’s domestic politics and short-term military readiness, but their relevance to Beijing’s Taiwan policy is limited.

The court’s recognition of Yoon as a rebellion leader necessitates an expedited final ruling to permanently root out martial law remnants.

The post-election climate in Nepal looks particularly harsh for China, as Nepal’s major communist forces are not expected to do well in the elections.

In trying to contain Khan, the system may be unintentionally shaping the very legend it fears.

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP