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.

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.

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.

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".

On 29 May 2013 the Committee on Foreign Affairs held an exchange of views with Martin Kobler, UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Iraq. Mr Kobler, expressed serious concerns over the situation in Iraq. After 10 years of a challenging transition to democracy, the country stands at a crossroads and might slide toward escalating sectarian strife if decisive action is not taken. Mr Martin Kobler called for a stronger role of the EU in dealing with the developments in the county. Mr Kobler also briefed the Members of the Committee on  Foreign Affairs on the efforts of UNAMI to resettle the former residents of Camp Ashraf to third countries. He thanked the EU for constructively accompanying this resettlement process, including through financial support. Deploring the lack of cooperation of the residents and their leadership, and their unwillingness to accept concrete resettlement offers, he encouraged the European Parliament to support UNAMI’s efforts to find durable solutions to this humanitarian issue. He also urged the Government of Iraq to abide by the Memorandum of Understanding of 2011 to live up to their responsibilities with respect to the residents’ safety.

The EP press service is organising a seminar for journalists on the current situation in the Arab Spring countries. The topics of debate include: EU action in response to developments in the region; freedom of expression and the media situation in the countries concerned; as well as the role played by women in the last two years. The seminar will be held in Brussels on 04-06.06.13.

On 27 May the Commmittee on Foreign Affairs held exchanges of views with Ali Zeidan, Prime Minister of Libya (on EU-Libya relations), with Leonid Kozhara, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (on the progress made by Ukraine in the implementation of reforms), and with Vuk Jeremić, President of the 67th UN General Assembly.