European Union

Tuesday 9 February 2016
11.00 Meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili (photo opportunity - press statements ±11.30)
13.00 Meeting with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (Berlaymont)

Wednesday 10 February 2016
(European Parliament)
15.15 Meeting with President of the EU Committee of the Regions Markku Markkula
15.30 Address to the EU Committee of the Regions plenary session

Thursday 11 February 2016
11.00 Meeting with the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland (photo opportunity)

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The Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich) takes place on 5 February 2016 in Amsterdam.

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On 17 February SEDE will exchange views on the state of play and future perspectives of the EUMM Georgia with Kęstutis Jankauskas, Head of Mission of EUMM Georgia and Kenneth Deane, Director of the EU Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, EEAS.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

At its meeting on 17-18 February, SEDE will discuss the draft report on Peace Support Operations - EU engagement with the UN and the African Union, Rapporteur Geoffrey VAN ORDEN (ECR, UK) and the draft report on space capabilities for European security and defence, Rapporteur Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI (PPE, PL).
Further information
Draft reports
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The global community agreed at a donor conference in London to put roughly nine billion euros at the disposal of relief organisations for refugees of the Syrian civil war. Is this the right way to stop people from leaving Syria's neighbouring states for Europe?

The Syria talks in Geneva were postponed without results on Thursday. UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura set a three-week pause in the negotiations and called for more commitment on the part of the participants. Commentators see little chance of the talks getting out of their current impasse.

The US has announced plans to boost its military presence in Eastern Europe. According to US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter the budget will be quadrupled to 3.4 billion dollars. Commentators see the investment as vital for defence measures against Russia.

France's National Assembly wants to vote next week on an extension of the state of emergency and several amendments to the constitution, including stripping convicted terrorists of their citizenship. Amnesty International - and the press - have harsh words for the state of emergency.

Britain and other EU member states will have the right to deny welfare benefits to EU migrants for up to four years. The British government has responded positively to this and other proposals put forward by EU Council President Donald Tusk. But can they prevent a Brexit?