Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) - European Parliament

In the framework of the EP-Western Balkans Speakers Summit held under the patronage of President Sassoli on Tuesday 28 January, Members of the AFET Working Group on Western Balkans will meet Parliamentary leaders of the six countries to exchange ideas on strengthening parliamentary dimension of enlargement. The rapporteurs, delegation Chairs and other MEPs will discuss options for increasing the credibility of the enlargement process and better assisting the partners in fundamental reforms.
Further information
Press_24-01-2020
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Discharge 2018: General budget of the EU - European External Action Service 2019/2064 (DEC)
2018 discharge: General budget of the EU - European Commission 2019/2055(DEC)
Conclusion of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (AFET/9/00396)
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

On 21 January MEPs from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), and Delegation for relations with NATO Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) discussed the security situation in Europe and the world with NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg. Mr Stoltenberg stressed the importance of NATO as an organisation bringing together the EU and the US and allowing them to address common security issues.
The debate concentrated around the importance of building global capacity, the EU's efforts towards strategic autonomy, transatlantic relations and relations with Russia.
Further information
Press release_ 21-01-2020
The recording of the meeting
Multimedia material
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

On 21 January, AFET debated external policy priorities with Gordan Grlić Radman, Croatia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. The Minister and MEPs discussed the upcoming challenges and possible solutions, as Croatia takes the lead of the Council in a very critical time for the European Union.
During this Presidency, the EU will strive to agree on its multiannual budget, to restore credibility to its enlargement policy and will continue to be actively engaged in both its East and South neighbourhood. Brexit, Africa and transatlantic relations will also be high on the foreign affairs agenda.
Further information
Croatian Presidency Priorities
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

On 21 January, the Committee on Foreign Affairs hold a public hearing on the future of the Eastern Partnership. The Members discussed with experts the achievements and shortcomings of the Eastern Partnership both at the regional and multilateral level. They also analysed possible evolution of the EU's relations with its six Eastern partners and a way forward for the Eastern Partnership in the next decade.
Further information
AFET Public Hearing - Draft Programme
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Opinion on the proposal for a Council decision on conclusion of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community
Committee on Foreign Affairs
David McAllister

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Length of video : 37'
You may manually download this video in WMV (426Mb) format

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 : 55'
You may manually download this video in WMV (632Mb) format

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 : 17'
You may manually download this video in WMV (201Mb) format

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 : 40'
You may manually download this video in WMV (462Mb) format

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 : 59'
You may manually download this video in WMV (668Mb) format

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 : 10'
You may manually download this video in WMV (124Mb) format

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 : 188'
You may manually download this video in WMV (2Gb) format

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 : 23'
You may manually download this video in WMV (260Mb) format

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 Tuesday 21 January 2020, The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) will hold a public hearing on the Eastern Partnership - vision of development after 2020.

On 21 January, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a public hearing on the future of the Eastern Partnership. The Members will discuss with experts the achievements and shortcomings of the Eastern Partnership both at the regional and multilateral level. They will also analyse possible evolution of the EU's relations with its six Eastern partners and a way forward for the Eastern Partnership in the next decade.

The hearing will help the Parliament in drafting its contribution to the Eastern Partnership summit, which is foreseen in spring 2020.
Location : JAN 2Q2, european Parliament, Brussels
Further information
AFET Public Hearing - Draft Programme
The Eastern Partnership a decade on looking back, thinking ahead
Live Webstream
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

In its foreign and defence policies, the EU has to be united and assertive, while its member states must take responsibility, say MEPs. No single EU member state can provide, on its own, an efficient response to today’s global challenges, warn MEPs on Wednesday in two annual resolutions, one on foreign policy, the other one on defence.
In the resolution assessing the state of play on the EU´s common foreign and security policy (CFSP), MEPs note that the world is facing a global power shift, with geopolitical competition becoming a leading trend.They express their full support for new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's decision to transform the European Commission into a 'geopolitical Commission'.

Team up with like-minded partners

MEPs point out that the EU has to switch from a responsive to an anticipatory approach. Teaming up with like-minded EU strategic partners, in particular NATO and emerging countries, is essential to defend the global rule-based order.

Further information
Press Releases from the Plenary session, 15-01-2020
Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

The European Parliament condemns the recent attempted coup to prevent Juan Guaidó from being re-elected President of the Venezuelan National Assembly.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2020 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 4 - Draft opinion on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Investment Protection Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, of the other part
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Isabel Wiseler-Lima

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP

The meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee will allow for a first exchange between the new EU leadership and parliamentarians from the national Parliaments and the European Parliament, at the outset of the new mandate. Mr Joseph Borell, High Representative/Vice-President-designate of the European Commission and Mr Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner-designate for Enlargement and Neighbourhood, are invited to participate at the meeting.
The half-day meeting will take place from 14:30-18:30 on Wednesday, 4 December 2019 in room JAN 2Q2 at the EP premises in Brussels.
Further information
Live video streaming on eptv
Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP