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 )

MEPs vote on the following topics: 30th Anniversary of the Single Market, Consumer protection in online video games: a European Single Market approach - Adriana MALDONADO LÓPEZ (S&D, ES), Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 - Tom VANDENKENDELAERE (EPP, BE), Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter - annual report 2022 - Isabel WISELER-LIMA (EPP, LU).

Voting session including 30th the resolution on the Anniversary of the Single Market, the report on the Consumer protection in online video games and the report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy

Press conference by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and Tom VANDENKENDELAERE (EPP, BE), Rapporteurs on Parliament's yearly reports on foreign, security and defence policy.

Press conference by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and Tom VANDENKENDELAERE (EPP, BE), Rapporteurs on Parliament's yearly reports on foreign, security and defence policy

MEPs debate on the CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy - annual reports 2022. Second part of the debate.

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: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on the CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy - annual reports 2022. First part of the debate.

Joint debate - CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on the CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy - annual reports 2022. Opening statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and by Tom VANDENKENDELAERE (EPP, BE), Rapporteurs, by Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO) AFCO and Susana SOLÍS PÉREZ (Renew, ES) FEMM and 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.

Joint debate - CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy: opening statements

MEPs debate on the CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU) Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy - annual reports 2022. Closing statements by by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and by Tom VANDENKENDELAERE (EPP, BE), Rapporteurs and by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

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: Closing statements

EPRS identifies and frames some of the top key issues that might feature prominently in public debate and on the political agenda of the European Union this year. In times of crises and war, what are the challenges we must face and choices we have to make? Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Russia, quo vadis?

The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and the Delegation for relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) discuss EU-NATO cooperation and the outcome of the 28-30 June NATO summit with Secretary General Jens STOLTENBERG, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

EU-NATO cooperation and the outcome of the NATO summit: opening statement by Jens STOLTENBERG, Secretary General of NATO, in AFET Committee

Jens STOLTENBERG, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is invited to the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) meeting to discuss EU-NATO cooperation, the outcome of the NATO summit in Madrid and the Finland and Sweden completed accession talks at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Monday 4 July 2022.

Exchange of views with Jens STOLTENBERG, Secretary General of NATO on EU-NATO cooperation and the outcome of the NATO summit: extracts

MEPs vote on The EU’s Foreign, Security and Defence Policy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine - David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) and Security in the Eastern Partnership area and the role of the common security and defence policy - Witold Jan WASZCZYKOWSKI (ECR, PL).

Voting session: The EU’s Foreign, Security and Defence Policy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Security in the Eastern Partnership area and the role of the common security and defence policy

MEPs quiz EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep BORRELL FONTELLES on the EU’s security and defence strategy for the coming decade. The Strategic Compass, adopted by EU ministers and approved by the European Council last week, maps out the EU’s action plan to “protect its citizens, values and interests and contribute to international peace and security”. It calls on the EU to shoulder a greater responsibility for its own security and improve its collective self-defence capabilities.

Question time - The EU’s security and strategic compass: second part of the questions to Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union

The EU and the USA share one of the longest and most complex defence and security relationships. Impressively, 79 % of citizens in NATO countries, 21 of which are EU Member States, consider the relationship between North America and Europe as important in handling security challenges. However, this relationship has been tense, at times distrustful, and uncertain, in particular since 2017...

EPRS - EU-USA: a renewed security and defence alliance

MEPs debate a series of recommendations aimed to beef up the EU’s capabilities on foreign interference, including a sanctions regime to fight foreign meddling and disinformation, general information campaigns spreading awareness about its dangers, and tightened rules for social media platforms serving as vehicles for foreign interference. Third part of the debate.

Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU: MEPs debate (Part 3/4)

MEPs debate a series of recommendations aimed to beef up the EU’s capabilities on foreign interference, including a sanctions regime to fight foreign meddling and disinformation, general information campaigns spreading awareness about its dangers, and tightened rules for social media platforms serving as vehicles for foreign interference. Closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency, by Brigitte KLINKERT, French Minister Delegate in charge of Integration attached to the Minister of Labour, Employment and Integration and by Sandra KALNIETE (EPP,LV), rapporteur.

Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the EU: Closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency, by Brigitte KLINKERT, French Minister Delegate for Integration

MEPs and Josep Borrell also discuss Parliament’s annual reports on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), MEPs put forward their proposals on how to strengthen the EU as a global foreign policy and security actor. First part of the debate.

Joint debate - Common security and defence policy: MEPs debate (part 1/2)

MEPs and Josep Borrell also discuss Parliament’s annual reports on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), MEPs put forward their proposals on how to strengthen the EU as a global foreign policy and security actor. Opening statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), Rapporteurs and 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.

Joint debate - Common security and defence policy: opening statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), Rapporteurs and by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, HRVP of the European Union

Debate on the new report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation. Parliament is set to call for closer relations with Taiwan, while issuing a warning about the continued tensions across the Taiwan Strait. In a new report, Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs stress the urgent need for the EU to begin an “impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise” on an EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement. Closing statements by Margrethe VESTAGER, vice-president of the European Commission (for the HR/VP) and by Charlie WEIMERS (ECR, SE), rapporteur.

EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation: closing statements by Margrethe VESTAGER, vice-president of the European Commission (for the HR/VP) and by Charlie WEIMERS (ECR, SE), rapporteur

Debate on the new report of the Foreign Affairs Committee on the EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation. Parliament is set to call for closer relations with Taiwan, while issuing a warning about the continued tensions across the Taiwan Strait. In a new report, Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs stress the urgent need for the EU to begin an “impact assessment, public consultation and scoping exercise” on an EU-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement. First part of the debate.

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