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Statement by Mr Brok, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

"I would like to rectify misleading quotations published in the media which would imply that I have questioned the credibility, morality and professional qualities of Mr Martin Kobler, UN Special Representative for Iraq. Mr Kobler enjoys my full trust and support. I also condemn any attempt, also by means of deliberate misquotes, to blemish his reputation. Mr KOBLER does an amazing job under very difficult and dangerous circumstances."

   
 
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"Foreign Policy Considerations in EU relations with ASEAN and Southeast Asia"  
Highlights of the AFET meeting on 17 and 18 June

On 17 June the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold an exchange of views with David Usupashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia on the recent developments in Georgia. On 18 June the committee will hold a public hearing on the "Foreign Policy Considerations in EU relations with ASEAN and Southeast Asia".  The Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Secretariat, Nyan Lynn, and four other external experts will give presentations on ASEAN integration process and relations with other countries during the hearing.

 
Further information
 
S04 - Lady Catherine Ashton addresses the Chamber  
Plenary debates with Ms Ashton: EEAS review, human rights and transatlantic relations

HRVP Ashton debated several reports by the committee on foreign affairs, including Parliament's recommendation which kicked off the debate on the review of the EEAS, planned for later this year. The plenary also discussed human rights issues, namely the guidelines on religious freedom and freedom of media, and a report on transatlantic relations which broadened the traditional EU/US debate to include other emerging partners in the Atlantic. Members also discussed the situation in Turkey in the light of recent political developments.

   
AFET Committee meeting © European Union  
Highlights of the AFET Committee meeting of 6 June

On 6 June the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a consideration of the draft report on the Annual Report from the Council to the European Parliament on the Common Foreign and Security Policy in 2012 (Rapporteur: Brok, EPP, DE) and two debriefings on the delegation to Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town and on the delegation to Ramallah/East Jerusalem.

 
Further information
 
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh in AFET  
Exchange of views with Foreign Minister of Bangladesh

The Committee on Foreign Affairs had an exchange of views with Dr Dipu Moni, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh. AFET Chair Elmar Brok reiterated that "he wished to see the government of Bangladesh implementing measures in the ready made garment industry, which would ensure concrete improvements in workplace safety and labour rights". Chair Brok also reminded  that "European companies purchasing ready made garments from Bangladesh must share the responsibilities, and to exercise control and promote acceptable standards in the factories".

   
 
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Louis Michel: Mali presidential elections key to "restoring legitimacy"
AFET 17-06-2013 - 15:47  

"Holding presidential elections in Mali on 28 July is the only way to restore legitimacy there' said ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Co-President in Brussels on Monday, at the opening of its 25th session. When the UN mission is deployed in Mali in July, replacing most French troops there, "it should take care to avoid a security vacuum at all costs", he added.

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Unrest in Turkey: Turkish democracy needs compromise and tolerance, say MEPs
AFET 06-06-2013 - 17:57  

The current unrest in Turkey highlights the absence of a culture of compromise and the failure to tolerate dissent in Turkish democracy, foreign affairs MEPs said in a debate on Thursday. They also criticised the lateness of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's reaction to the violent crackdown on the anti-government protests as well as the lack of reaction so far by Prime Minister Erdogan.

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Mali: MEPs back financial commitment for reconstruction and democracy
AFET DEVE SEDE 03-06-2013 - 11:32  

MEPs welcomed the results of the Mali donors conference but insisted on respect for the rule of law and human rights during their discussion on Thursday with the acting president, Dioncounda Traoré. Members of the security and defence, foreign affairs and development committees also stressed the need to establish genuine democracy and decentralisation.

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MEPs and eastern MPs eye breakthrough in relations
AFET 29-05-2013 - 18:29  

MEPs and MPs from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine hope to achieve a breakthrough in their relations at this November's Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, but not at the expense of democracy, rule of law and peace. At the Third Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels on 28-29 May, they pledged to press their governments for reforms to this end.

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Serbia: putting deal with Kosovo into effect swiftly now crucial, MEPs tell PM
AFET 29-05-2013 - 14:38  

Serbia's 19 April deal with Kosovo, and the roadmap agreed on 22 May to implement it, were hailed as a remarkable achievement by Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs in a debate with Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dačić on Wednesday. Putting the deal into effect swiftly is now crucial, they stressed, reiterating that the Council should set a date at its next meeting for starting EU accession talks with Belgrade, provided Serbia sticks to its reform course.

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Libya: security and transition topped debate with Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
AFET 28-05-2013 - 11:07  

Internal security in Libya, the protection of its borders to prevent arms trafficking in the region and the Libyan constitutional process were key issues discussed by Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs with Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan on Monday.

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Ukraine: MEPs call for implementation of reforms
AFET 28-05-2013 - 11:03  

Key judicial and rule-of-law reforms in Ukraine must not only be adopted but carried out ahead of the November Eastern Partnership Summit, foreign affairs MEPs told the Ukrainian foreign minister, Leonid Kozhara, on Monday. The decision on signing the association agreement with Ukraine is to be taken at the summit.

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MEPs to meet Eastern counterparts for third time, in Brussels
AFET 27-05-2013 - 16:29  

MEPs will meet their counterparts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine for the third session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, in Brussels, on 28. and 29. May. The partners will seek agreement on shared security concerns, trade, energy cooperation and social issues and will discuss political messages for the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.

Presentation and responsibilities
 
Committee responsible for:
 
1.    the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the European security and defence policy (ESDP). In this context the committee is assisted by a subcommittee on security and defence;
 
2.    relations with other EU institutions and bodies, the UNO and other international organisations and interparliamentary assemblies for matters falling under its responsibility;
 
3.    the strengthening of political relations with third countries, particularly those in the immediate vicinity of the Union, by means of major cooperation and assistance programmes or international agreements such as association and partnership agreements;
 
4.    the opening, monitoring and concluding of negotiations concerning the accession of European States to the Union;
 
5.    issues concerning human rights, the protection of minorities and the promotion of democratic values in third countries. In this context the committee is assisted by a subcommittee on human rights. Without prejudice to the relevant rules, members from other committees and bodies with responsibilities in this field shall be invited to attend the meetings of the subcommittee.
 

The committee coordinates the work of joint parliamentary committees and parliamentary cooperation committees as well as that of the interparliamentary delegations and ad hoc delegations and election observation missions falling within its remit.
 
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06-06-2013 - 09:11   AFET Meeting   Watch the meeting
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Welcome!
 
Elmar Brok, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs  
 

Welcome to the website of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.
 
The European Union, the world’s largest economy and biggest donor of development aid, has now, in the form of the Lisbon Treaty, the key powers and the means to conduct an ambitious and coherent foreign policy.
 
The European Parliament confers full democratic legitimacy on the European Union’s external action by ensuring it is based on the fundamental values of democracy and the rule of law which lie at the heart of European integration.
But the institutions are not the whole story: political will is needed to transcend internal divisions and overcome protectionist, even nationalist, reflexes.
 
The Committee on Foreign Affairs helps to formulate and monitor a foreign policy that addresses the interests of the Union, the security expectations of its citizens and the stability of its neighbours, and ensures that it is coherent and effective. We are, more specifically, aware that the views of European nations and their peoples will only be heard on the international stage if Europe speaks with one voice.