AFET - Exchange of views with Kaja Kallas, High Representative/Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the situation in Syria following the fall of the Assad dictatorship

AFET -  Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, European Commissioner-designate for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Press point

AFET Committee - Public hearing on the Global Gateway and the Indo-Pacific region.

AFET SEDE extraordinary joint meeting Following yesterday's events in Poland

AFET - EC - EEAS joint meeting - Exchange of views on the reconstruction of Ukraine

AFET Committee - Afghanistan: regional impact after Taliban takeover

AFET Committee - Exchange of views with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus and Sakharov Prize laureate 2020

AFET Committee - Presentation of the 2022 Enlargement Package by Oliver VARHELYI, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

AFET SEDE Committees  in association with the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee meeting - Exchange of views with Luc Pierre Devigne, Deputy Managing Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EEAS) on Russia's threats of escalation in its war of aggression against Ukraine

DEVE AFET DROI joint committee - Presentation of the candidates for this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought

AFET INGE2 joint Committee - Hearing on the Chinese and Russian influence in various regions of the world

AFET DEVE joint meeting - Exchange of views with Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, on EU-NATO cooperation and the outcome of the NATO summit

AFET Committee - Exchange of views with Jan Lipavský, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, on the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union

AFET Committee  - Exchange of views with Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

AFET interparliamentary Committee Meeting - EU Enlargement Policy in the Aftermath of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

AFET-DEVE-BUDG Joint Committee - Spotlight on EU financing for Ukraine.

AFET Committee - A new agenda for the Mediterranean: Are the EU tools and means of action up to its ambitions?

AFET public hearing on The EU and Antarctica: a foreign policy perspective

AFET Committee - Vote assessment of the progress made towards EU membership by Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia

AFET Committee In association with the Delegation to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Delegation for relations with Mercosur and the Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee

The Foreign Affairs and Development committees votes to shortlist three finalists for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, among those already nominated by MEPs and political groups. The 3 finalists are: Venezuela’s María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, Israel/Palestine associations “Women wage peace" and "Women of the sun" and Azerbaijan’s Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu.Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Barry ANDREWS (Renew, IE), Chair Committee on Development(DEVE) and Mounir SATOURI (GREENS/EFA, FR), Chair Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI).

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Barry ANDREWS (Renew, IE), DEVE Chair and Mounir SATOURI (GREENS/EFA, FR), DROI Chair

This news item shows extracts from the AFET (Foreign Affairs), LIBE (Civil Liberties, Home Affairs and Justice), ITRE (Industry, research and Energy), ECON (Economy and Monetary Affairs), ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety), DEVE (Development) and AGRI (Agriculture) Committee's constitutive meetings and the election of their Bureau. The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels following the appointments of their members in the plenary sitting of 16-19 July. During the constitutive meetings, each committee and subcommittee elects its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees then starts holding their regular meetings during the same week following their constitutive meeting.

Constitutive meetings of the Committees (AFET, LIBE, ITRE, ECON, ENVI, DEVE and AGRI): extracts

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) discuss following the death of Alexei NAVALNY, Sakharov Prize Laureate 2021. Questions and answers session by MEPs.

Death of Alexei NAVALNY, Sakharov Prize 2021: joint meeting of AFET Committee, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee: MEPs Q&A

EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) exchange views on the inhuman detention and death of Alexei NAVALNY, 2021 Sakharov Price Laureate. MEPs also discuss the state of Russia’s democratic opposition movement ahead of the country’s presidential elections scheduled for 15-17 March 2024, as well as the situation of all those Russian opposition voices currently behind bars. The following guests give testimonies to MEPs: Leonid VOLKOV, Chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, Anti-Corruption Foundation, Evgenia KARA-MURZA, Advocacy Director at the Free Russia Foundation, wife of political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Vladimir MILOV, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia.

Death of Alexei Navalny and state of the Russian opposition: extracts from the exchange of views - AFET, DROI Subcommittee and Delegation for relations with Russia

Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) exchange views on the death of 2021 Sakharov Prize Laureate Alexei Navalny and on the state of the Russian opposition ahead of the presidential elections. Opening statements by David MCALLISTER, (EPP, DE) chair of AFET (Committee on Foreign Affairs), 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, and Vladimir MILOV, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia. Followed by a questions and answers session by MEPs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Exchange of views on the death of Sakharov Prize Laureate Alexei Navalny and on the state of the Russian opposition ahead of the presidential elections: opening statements

At the initiative of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, the European Parliament holds a High-Level Conference on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Conference will bring together representatives from international and regional human rights organisations, members of national parliaments of EU member states, international and local civil society organisations, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, young voices from around the world as well as MEPs and chairs of Parliament’s committees to address human rights challenges. Introductory remarks by Udo BULLMANN (S&D, DE), Chair of the DROI Subcommittee and by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of the AFET Committee, and high level address by Volker TÜRK, United Nations High Commissionner for Human Rights.

75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: statements by Udo BULLMANN (S&D, DE), Chair of the DROI Subcommittee, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of the AFET Committee and by Volker TÜRK, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

At the initiative of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, the European Parliament holds a High-Level Conference on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Conference will bring together representatives from international and regional human rights organisations, members of national parliaments of EU member states, international and local civil society organisations, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, young voices from around the world as well as MEPs and chairs of Parliament’s committees to address human rights challenges. Opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - High Level Conference: opening speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

In a joint secret vote in the Foreign Affairs and Development committees and the Human Rights Subcommittee, MEPs will choose the three finalists for this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), DEVE Chair and Udo BULLMAN (S&D, DE), DROI Chair annouce officially the three finalists: Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran, Vilma Núñez de Escorcia and Monsignor Rolando José Álvarez Lagos from Nicaragua, Women fighting for a free, safe and legal abortion: Justyna Wydrzyńska - Poland, Morena Herrera - El Salvador, and Colleen McNicholas - United States. The winner will be chosen by Parliament’s Conference of Presidents on 19 October.

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2023: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), DEVE Chair and Udo BULLMAN (S&D, DE), DROI Chair

After the terrorist attack against Israel by Hamas on 8th October, MEPs discuss and condemn this act of terrorism and hatred during an extraordinary AFET committee meeting. Extracts of the arrival and the exchange of views on the terrorist attack against Israel and the consequences in the region. David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), gives a statement after the meeting, reaffirming the EU support to Israel.

Exchange of views on the terrorist attack against Israel, the response and the consequences in the region: arrivals and statement by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET

MEPs of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), jointly with the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), debate the ongoing and future challenges of the EU Common security and defence policy in the context of the war in Ukraine and the Alliance's enlargement with Jens STOLTENBERG, Secretary General of NATO. Extracts from the exchange of views.

Exchange of views with Jens STOLTENBERG, Secretary General of NATO: extracts from the joint meeting AFET/SEDE

MEPs from the DROI (SUB Committee on Human Rights) and AFET (Foreign Affairs) Committees discuss how to support human rights, freedom and democracy in Iran with several guests: Mansoureh Shojayi, women's rights activist and writer, Mahdieh Golroo, journalist and women's rights activist, Fatameh Karimi, Researcher in Sociology of Gender, women's rights activist and President of Kurdistan human rights network France, Sattar Rahmani, a former teacher and political prisoner in Iran, expert on teachers' rights movement and Ardeshir Amir Arjomand, senior advisor to presidential candidate Mr. Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Extracts from the exchange of views. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

How to support Human Rights, Freedom and Democracy in Iran: extracts from the exchange of views

The AFET (Foreign Affairs) Committee vote on a report calling for the establishment of a "European Union rapid deployment capacity", equipped with up to 5 000 troops to respond to crises. The European Union supports peace and stability in its neighbourhood and beyond. As a credible and capable actor in international crisis management, the EU needs to be able to react to conflicts quickly, robustly and effectively. To that end, the EU will develop a Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC) consisting of up to 5 000 troops. This EU RDC will be a robust, flexible and scalable military instrument adding to the EU’s broad crisis management toolbox. Extracts from the vote and statement by Javi LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Rapporteur.

EU Rapid Deployment Capacity: extracts from the vote and statement by Javi LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Rapporteur

European Parliament reprensentatives look back at one year of Russian agrression against Ukraine. David MCALLISTER, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the EP, talks about the very first thoughts he had when the aggression started. He also looks back at the work his AFET Committee has achieved since the beginning of the war, and what is left to be done to further support Ukraine.

One year of Russian Aggression against Ukraine: statement by David MCALLISTER, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

After an exchange of views with reprensentatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano GROSSI, Director General of the IAEA, David McALLISTER (EPP,DE), AFET Chair and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew,FR), SEDE Chair hold a joint press conference in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Joint Press point by Rafael Mariano GROSSI, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), SEDE Chair

Ahead of each new rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (every 6 months), the ministers of the holding country present their priorities in a series of meetings with parliamentary committees related to their political area. On January 2023, the committees of ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety), AFET (Foreign Affairs) and ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs) welcomed the Sweden's ministers, including Romina Pourmokhtari, Minister for Climate and Environment, Elisabeth Svantesson, ECOFIN President and Minister for Finance of Sweden and Tobias Lennart Billström, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by Swedish Ministers: extracts from the EP Committee meetings (ENVI - ECON - AFET)

Following the missile blast in Poland on the night of 15th November, the AFET (Foreign Affairs) and SEDE (Security and Defence) Committees organise an extraordinary joint meeting to discuss the latest updates and the situation. Statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE Subcommittee.

EP extraordinary joint AFET/SEDE meeting on the rocket strike on the village of Przewodów (Poland) on 15 November 2022 and its consequences: statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew FR), Chair of SEDE

The leader of the democratic forces of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will address MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee. She outline her views to the Foreign Affairs Committee on the war in Ukraine and the role of Belarus in the conflict, as well as comment on the latest political situation in Belarus, which is still ruled by an oppressive regime under dictator Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

Exchange of views with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, leader of democratic forces of Belarus and Sakharov Prize laureate 2020: extracts - EP AFET Committee in association with the Delegation for relations with Belarus

MEPs have shortlisted WikiLeaks activist Julian Assange, the Ukrainian people and their representatives and the Colombian Truth Commission for the 2022 Sakharov Prize. EPs on the Development and Foreign Affairs Committees and the Human Rights Subcommittee vote to select three finalists for this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), DEVE Chair and Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), DROI Chair comment the results of the vote.

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2022: Statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), DEVE Chair and Maria ARENA (S&D, BE), DROI Chair

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