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.