Oliver Varhelyi, born on 22 March 1972 in Szeged, is a Hungarian diplomat. Since 2015, he has headed the Hungarian EU representation in Brussels. Varhelyi is Commissioner-designate for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

After the hearing by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designate

Josep Borrell Fontelles, born on 24 April 1947 in La Pobla de Segur, is a Spanish politician. He was Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009 and President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007. Borrell is High Representative/Vice-President designate for foreign affairs and security policy.

After the hearing by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Josep BORRELL, EU´s High Representative

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Volker Türk comes to the EU Parliament for the first time in this legislature. In an exchange of views with AFET - DROI MEPs in committee meeting, they discuss news topics in the field of geopolitics and human rights, before the adoption of the annual report on Human rights by the EP in plenary session, tentatively in March 2025.

AFET/DROI- Debate with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

Kaja Kallas was Member of the EP from 2014 to 2018, Estonian Prime Minister since 2021 and she is now High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, in the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President designate

Marta Kos is self-employed, working through Kos Consulting and Coaching since 2021. From 2017 to 2021, she was the Slovenian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the Ambassador to Germany and Latvia (2013-2017). She is now the European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, Commissioner-designate, Enlargement

Andrius Kubilius was Lithuanian Prime Minister (1999-2000, 2008-2012), Member of the European Parliament since 2019 and he is now European Commissioner-designate for Defence and Space, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Andrius KUBILIUS, Commissioner-designate, Defence and Space

Dubravka Šuica was Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography in the von der Leyen Commission I and Member of the European Parliament from 2013 to 2019. She is now European Commissioner-designate for the Mediterranean, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, Commissioner-designate, Mediterranean

The Foreign Affairs and Development committees vote to shortlist three finalists for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. David McAllister, AFET Chair, Barry Andrews, DEVE Chair, and Mounir Satouri, DROI Chair, give statements after the announcement.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU's highest tribute to human rights work, recognizing those who contribute to protecting freedom of thought. The candidates include María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia from Venezuela, Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh from the “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun” movement in Israel/Palestine, Elon Musk from the United States, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu from Azerbaijan, and journalists in Palestine including Hamza and Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh, and Ain Media. The Conference of Presidents selects the winner on 24 October, and the award ceremony takes place on 18 December in Strasbourg.

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024

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: Vladimir Milov, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia

AFET/DROI debate on Alexei Navalny´s death

DROI Committee - Exchange of views with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

AFET - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement

AFET DEVE DROI  joint Committee meeting with Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 laureates

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 - Interviews with laureates

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

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement.- Press point

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement

AFET ITRE - Confirmation hearing of Andrius KUBILIUS, European Commissioner-designate for Defence and Space - Press point

AFET ITRE - Confirmation hearing of Andrius KUBILIUS, European Commissioner-designate for Defence and Space

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner-designate for Mediterranean -  Press point.

AFET - Confirmation hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner-designate for Mediterranean

AFET DEVE DROI - Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024

DEVE AFET DROI - Presentation of candidates for the Sakharov Prize 2024

AFET Committee constitutive meeting

AFET - Exchange of views with Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro

AFETY DEVE -  Geopolitical dialogue with Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships

Members from the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) and the Security and Defence Subcommittee (SEDE) travel to Ukraine and meet with EUAM Regional Office (EU Advisory Mission Ukraine) in Mariupol.

EP fact-finding mission to Ukraine: AFET-SEDE delegation meets with EUAM Regional office

This infoclip shows illustrative shots of Kiyv city, the Memorial wall and official buildings such as the Office of the President, the Goverrnment building and the Parliament It also includes illustrative footage of the Port of Mariupol shot during the EP fact-finding mission to Ukraine by the AFET-SEDE delegation from 30th January to 1st of February 2022. Mariupol is considered by many experts to be among the most likely possible targets as it sits in a highly strategic position. If captured, Kreml would be able to create a land corridor between Russia, the separatist territories, and annexed Crimea.

Infoclip: illustrations from Kiyv and Mariupol in Ukraine

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 Monday and Tuesday, the committee of INTA, AGRI, IMCO, AFET and FEMM welcomed the France’s ministers, including Julien DENORMANDIE, Minister for Agriculture and Food, Jean-Yves LE DRIAN, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Cédric O, Minister of State for the Digital Transition and Electronic Communication, Elisabeth MORENO, Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities, Elisabeth BORNE, Minister of Labour, Employment and Economic Inclusion, Franck RIESTER, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness and Agnès PANNIER-RUNACHER, Minister Delegate for Industry.

Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by French Ministers: extracts from the EP Committees meetings

EP Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, David McALLISTER (EPP,DE) gives a statement on the CE proposals related to the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, after the UK's Brexit minister announced that UK wants to negotiate a new protocol. The UK and EU agreed on a protocol after Brexit to avoid the introduction of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The document states that Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK's customs territory - so if the UK signs a free-trade deal with another country, Northern Irish goods would be included. However, Northern Ireland will have to stick to EU rules to allow goods to move freely into the Republic and the rest of the EU.

Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland: statement by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair

Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT) Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), and Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), give a press briefing on thec crisis in Afghanistan; migration, human rights and asylum policies, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Extracts from the press briefing ahead the State of the European Union Debate 2021.

The crisis in Afghanistan; migration, human rights and asylum policies: extracts from the press briefing ahead the State of the European Union Debate

The Foreign Affairs Committee review the EU's policy vis-à-vis Russia and propose a new EU-Russia strategy. The draft resolution covers a wide range of issues, such as deterring Russian security threats, fighting Russian interference, EU engagement to support democracy in Russia, sanctions policy, media freedom and human rights. Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT), rapporteur, makes a statement following the votes on the report in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Direction of EU-Russia political relations in AFET committee: statement by Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT), rapporteur

MEPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee give their input for a new EU strategy towards China, including how to continue cooperation, while dealing with emerging threats and challenges such as investments, disinformation, the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), security, human rights, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong. Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), rapporteur, makes a statement on the new EU-China strategy following the vote on the report by the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) in the European Pariament in Brussels. She stressed that the CAI should be put in the fridge until China changes the sanctions and makes improvements on human rights. The report also calls for a clear investigation on what happened with the Uyghurs and for a change of policy towards Hong Kong.

A new EU-China strategy: statement by Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), rapporteur - AFET Committee

Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) have an exchange of views with a representative of the European External Action Service on the situation in Cuba following the latest escalation in the repression of protests in Cuba. Statements by Željana ZOVKO, Vice-chair of AFET Committee, Javier NINO, Deputy Management Director for the Americas in the European External Action Service (EEAS) & Javi LÓPEZ, Chair of Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

The situation in Cuba: extracts of the exchange of views with the EEAS - AFET Committee

Media personnel have been significantly targeted by Belarusian authorities. The "European Parliament Platform on the fight against impunity in Belarus" (initiative launched by the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Delegation for Relations with Belarus and the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly) host in the European Parliament in Brussels a meeting specifically on the human rights situation of media in Belarus. During the meeting diverse speakers explain the situation on the ground : Stanislav IVASHKEVICH , independent journalist and head of investigations at Belsat TV, Natalia BELIKOVA representative of the 'Belarus in Focus Information Office', Adam MICHNIK, editor-in-chief at Gazeta Wyborcza. The Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights Maria ARENA (S&D, BE) and the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Belarus, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT) make a statement on the situation.

The situation of journalists in Belarus: extracts of the meeting and statement by Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT) and by Maria ARENA (S&D, BE) - Platform against impunity on Belarus

Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) hold an exchange of views with the Speakers of the Parliaments from the Western Balkans on the key role of Parliaments in the EU enlargement proces, in Brussels. Extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments.

2nd European Parliament - Western Balkans Speakers Summit: extracts from the meeting with the EP delegations for the Western Balkan and with the Speakers of the Western Balkans’ parliaments

David SASSOLI, EP President, invites speakers from the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to meet for the Summit of EP - Western Balkans’ Speakers of Parliament. They debate the role that parliaments should play in EU post-COVID-19 enlargement.

2nd EP - Western Balkans Speakers' summit chaired by David SASSOLI, EP President; arrivals, roundtable, signing of joint declaration of Western Balkans Speakers Summit 2021 and family photo

Exchange of views at the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) in association with the Delegation for Northern cooperation and for relations with Switzerland on the decision of the Swiss Federal Council to terminate the negotiations of the EU-Swiss Institutional Framework Agreement: statement by Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), Vice-Chair of the AFET Committee who reminded that Switzerland is the fourth important trade partner for the EU including around 120 different agreements. Andreas SCHWAB (EPP, DE), Chair of the EP Delegation for Switzerland, stressed (remotely) that it is in the mutual interest of both sides to stabilise and further develop European-Swiss cooperation and a multi programming agreement is needed. Michael KARNITSCHNIG, director of external relations at the Secretariat General of the European Commission, mentionned (remotely) that the issue of a level playing field is fundamental.

Exchange of views on the decision of the Swiss Federal Council to terminate the negotiations of the EU-Swiss Institutional Framework Agreement: statement by Urmas PAET (Renew, EE), Vice-Chair of the AFET Committee

Exchange of views at the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) in association with the Delegation for relations with Belarus on the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk Belarus and the detention by Belarusian authorities of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega. Opening statement by David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of the AFET Committee, Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, representative of the Belarus opposition and Michael SIEBERT, Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional cooperation and OSCE of the European External Action Service.This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Exchange of views on the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk Belarus in AFET Committee: opening and statement by Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA

Exchange of views at the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs in association with the Delegation for relations with Belarus on the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk Belarusand the detention by Belarusian authorities of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega. MEPs exchange with Sviatlana TSIKHANOUSKAYA, representative of the Belarus opposition and Michael SIEBERT, Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional cooperation and OSCE of the European External Action Service.

Exchange of views on the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk Belarus and the detention by Belarusian authorities of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega -AFET Committee

Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D, AT), and Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), rapporteurs, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) give a joint press conference on the vote on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Press conference on the vote on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: opening statements by Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D, AT), and Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), rapporteurs, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Chair, and Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), INTA Chair

Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D, AT), and Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), rapporteurs, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) give a joint press conference on the vote on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.. Session of questions and answers with journalists.

Press conference on the vote on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Q&A session

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. To minimise cross-border disruption, the agreement has already been applied provisionally since 1 January 2021; the provisional agreement is set to lapse on 30 April 2021. Parliament’s consent is necessary for the agreement to properly enter into force. Extracts from the press conference and statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair AFET, Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Chair INTA, Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Rapporteur and Andreas SCHIEDER (S&D, AT).

EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: extracts from the press conference and statements

Members of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) vote on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Turkey in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statement by Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR (S&D, ES).

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