During the plenary sessions MEPs hold debates on foreign affairs and security policy to discuss European Union (EU) action beyond its borders.

The EU Treaties differentiate between common foreign and security policy (CFSP), common security and defence policy (CSDP), external action, and the external dimension of internal policies.

To address new challenges such as climate change, rising insecurity or new migration patterns, the EU has put forward concrete solutions to shape synergy between the actors, in order to use shared expertise more effectively, and to find new sources of funding. The new foreign policy framework (EU global strategy) is intended to map the tools and resources best designed to help society as a whole, in the EU and partner countries, to withstand natural and manmade shocks more effectively. In the years to come, global instability is expected to rise; the challenge for the EU will be to ensure security while upholding the core values of the Treaties – human rights, democracy and the fight against poverty – as its primary objectives on the global stage.

Debates on foreign affairs and security policy

On Tuesday, Parliament assess the outcome of the 6 March Special European Council with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen and discuss the need to bolster Europe’s security.

In a joint debate on European security, MEPs assess the results of the 6 March special European Council convened by President António Costa to discuss Ukraine and European defence and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At a critical time for Ukraine and European security, as President Donald Trump’s new US administration has paused support for Kyiv and raised questions about future US defence engagement in Europe, MEPs will hear from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on how the EU plans to strengthen its defence capabilities.

On Tuesday morning, MEPs also outline their expectations for the 20 -21 March EU summit, which is expected to focus - besides Ukraine - on the Middle East, Europe’s competitiveness, trade policy, and migration management.

In a separate debate on Tuesday afternoon, MEPs and representatives of the Polish Council Presidency and the European Commission discuss the upcoming white paper on the future of European defence, set to be unveiled by the Commission and the European External Action Service in mid-March 2025. The white paper will address defence sector capability issues, industrial competitiveness and investment needs. It should also frame the overall approach to EU defence integration, and outline how best the EU can respond to security threats. Plenary will wind up the debate with a vote on a resolution on Wednesday.

Debate on the EU summits and on the urgent need to bolster Europe’s security architecture

MEPs wengage in a debate with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell regarding Russian attempts to interfere in Moldova's upcoming presidential elections. Following this discussion, a resolution addressing these concerns will be put to a vote on Thursday.

Moldova is set to hold its presidential election on 20 October 2024, coinciding with a referendum on EU membership. Senior Moldovan officials have raised alarms about Moscow's use of hybrid tactics aimed at undermining the country's pro-European government, led by President Maia Sandu, as it seeks to advance its EU integration following the granting of EU candidate status in June 2022.

Strengthening Moldova's resilience against Russian interference

EP Plenary session - European Council meetings and European Security

With war having returned to the European continent, measuring the level of threats to peace, security and democracy around the world – as the 'Normandy Index' does – is more important than ever. The annual Index was presented for the first time at the Normandy Peace Forum in June 2019, as a result of a partnership between the European Parliament and the Region of Normandy. The Index has been designed and prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), in conjunction with and on the basis of data provided by the Institute for Economics and Peace. This paper sets out the findings of the 2023 exercise, which draws on data compiled in 2022, and explains how the Index can be used to compare peace – defined on the basis of a given country's performance against a range of predetermined threats – across countries and regions. It is complemented by 61 individual country case studies, derived from the Index. The paper forms part of the EPRS contribution to the 2023 Normandy World Peace Foru

Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide: Normandy Index 2023

AFET Committee - Exchange of views with Miroslav Lajčák, , EU Special representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina

EP Plenary session - Foreign interference and hybrid attacks: the need to strengthen EU resilience and internal security

EP Plenary session - Strengthening Moldova's resilience against Russian interference and a constitutional referendum on EU integration

EP Plenary session - Role of preventive diplomacy in tackling frozen conflicts around the world – missed opportunity or change for the future?

AFET Committee - Public hearing on the Implementation report on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

AFET Committee - Public Hearing on the EU and Latin America

AFET Committee - Geopolitical dialogue with Olivér Várhelyi

EP Plenary session - Situation in Sudan

EP Plenary session - Adoption of the Act in support of ammunition production

EP Plenary session - Statement by the Vice-President of the commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - EU relations with Iraq

EP Plenary session - The implementation of civilian CSDP and other EU civilian security assistance

EP Plenary session - Situation in Georgia

EP Plenary session - The challenges facing the Republic of Moldova

EP Plenary session - Deterioration of democracy in Israel and consequences on the occupied territories

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU).Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy- annual reports 2022

EP Plenary session -  Question time to Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World - The EU’s security and strategic compass

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - CFSP and CSDP (common foreign and security policy / common security and defence policy )

During the plenary session (13-16 September 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs discuss how to best respond to the humanitarian and migration crisis in Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s return to power after the withdrawal of US troops, with Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Situation in Afghanistan: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC

This Infoclip illustrates the relationships between the European Union and the other country in the world in the perspective of the SOTEU 2021 (US, Turkey, Russian Federation, People's Republic of China, Brexit, G7).

Infoclip: Europe in the world

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on situation in Tigray, Ethiopia: opening statement by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

Situation in Tigray, Ethiopia: opening statements by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP, the People's democratic Party.

The repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the current situation in Nicaragua.

Situation in Nicaragua: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on situation in Tigray, Ethiopia. Closing statements by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management and by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Situation in Tigray, Ethiopia: closing statements by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management and by Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP, the People's Democratic Party: closing statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World.

The repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP: closing statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Nicaragua: closing statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World.

Situation in Nicaragua: closing statement by opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP, the People's Democratic Party: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World.

The repression of the opposition in Turkey, specifically HDP: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Nicaragua: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World.

Situation in Nicaragua: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on situation in Tigray, Ethiopia.

Situation in Tigray, Ethiopia: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (5-8 July 2021) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on situation in Tigray, Ethiopia. (continuation of the debate)

Situation in Tigray, Ethiopia: MEPs debate (continuation)

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Afghanistan: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The situation in Afghanistan: opening statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the 75th and the 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. Closing statement by Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships.

75th and the 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly: closing statement by Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the 75th and the 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.

75th and the 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the 75th and the 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. Opening statements by María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS (Renew, ES), rapporteur and by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Union.

75th and the 76th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly: opening statements by María Soraya RODRÍGUEZ RAMOS (Renew, ES), rapporteur and by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Union

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the current situation in Afghanistan.

The situation in Afghanistan: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (7-10 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Afghanistan: closing statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The situation in Afghanistan: closing statement by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

146 results