Documents by topic : External relations

Doubts over the merits of body scanners at Europe's airports were aired when MEPs discussed the issue on Wednesday (27 January). In the wake of the Detroit "underpants" bomber, the devices have been touted as effective deterrents. Thus far, the Netherlands, Britain and Italy have said they may use them on US bound flights. The EU's anti-terror Tsar, Gilles de Kerchove, told MEPs in the Civil Liberties Committee that they should be used if they are "privacy friendly and health friendly".

Medical treatment is reaching those in need and water and food is being distributed in the camps, EU Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht told MEPs Monday evening (25 January), when he presented the findings of a visit to Haiti. He warned that the need for shelter will become more acute as the rainy season approaches.

In a charged and emotive debate on Iran the regime's nuclear programme and the crackdown on political dissent drew criticism from all sides. Opening the debate the EU's new foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, told the House in Strasbourg that Iran's nuclear programme was in breach of its international obligations. Many Members made the crucial distinction between the regime of President Ahmedinejad and the people of Iran.

As the scale of the disaster in Haiti unfolds, it is clear the country will need massive help from the international community. Meeting on Monday (18 January) EU Ministers welcomed €30 million in humanitarian assistance from the European Commission and €92 million by member states. The estimated long term response is €200 million. We spoke with Belgian MEP Louis Michel, who oversaw the EU’s response to the Asian Tsunami and now co-chairs the Assembly of African, Caribbean and Pacific states.

The European Parliament has a close relationship with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and during the 18th ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Angola, MEPs took time to visit the new city of Kilamba Kiaxi, south of Luanda, where 20,000 apartments are being built. Housing conditions in the oil-boom country are very poor for most people and some of the new apartments will go to those currently living in shanty towns, known as Musseques.

The EU membership hopes of countries such as Croatia, Iceland and Turkey will be raised by MEPs on Wednesday afternoon. Of these, Croatia is held to be first in the queue and is eager to join as soon as possible. The Parliament's rapporteur on Croatia is Austrian Socialist Member Hannes Swoboda. In this interview he explains what Zagreb still has to do to be able to join the European Union.

"Operation Atalanta" is the codename for the EU anti-piracy campaign off the Somali coast, seeking to protect to vessels crossing these treacherous waters. It is no small task considering the size of the area the operation has to patrol. Operation Commander Rear-Admiral Peter Hudson of Britain's Royal Navy was in parliament this week to tell MEPs about the state of play and the main challenges the operation faces.

In an exclusive interview, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says it "makes sense" for the EU and NATO to cooperate politically and militarily. On Afghanistan, he hopes for a transfer of responsibility for security to the Afghans to start next year and on relations with Moscow, he points to common threats and says that "NATO is not an enemy of Russia". Finally, he likens his present job to his former role as Danish prime minister in that it is all about "consensus building".

Winning the trust of the people will be the number one challenge for Hamid Karzai's Afghan government, according to MEPs just back from Kabul. They were there as part of an international force to monitor the second round of elections, before the challenger Abdullah Abdullah, pulled out. Thijs Berman, the Dutch Socialist who headed the team said "the Afghan people have lost trust in their government".

Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said Belgrade will apply for EU membership before the end of the year, with the aim of joining within seven years. Speaking to us during his visit to the European Parliament on 5 November, the youthful Mr Jeremić (34) stressed his view that disagreements over Kosovo independence should be separated from negotiations over the EU. He also spoke of the cultural heritage and the strong relationship with Moscow that Serbia can bring to the Union.

Mozambique in southeast Africa is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa, lying as it does on the Indian Ocean. However, political instability and civil war have blighted life for its 22 million people since independence. On 28 October it held its fourth Presidential and Parliamentary elections since multi-party democracy took hold in the 1990's. A group of MEPs took part in the EU's Election Observation Mission and found the election to be fair despite some logistical problems.

One of the innovations of the new Lisbon Treaty is the creation of a new European External Action Service (EEAS), intended as a diplomatic corps that will oversee not only Europe's huge aid and humanitarian budget but also relations with countries around the world. At the head of this will be the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy who will also be a European Commission Vice-President. In Strasbourg last week (22 October) MEPs discussed the new EEAS.

The economic crisis has pushed an extra 90 million people into extreme poverty in the developing world and made 23 million people unemployed. It will also lead to between 200,000 and 400,000 more infant deaths a year on average between 2009 and 2015. On Thursday Members of the European Parliament called for more money to alleviate the crisis.

MEPs scrutinise planned changes to Balkans visa rules

Article - External relations - 16-09-2009 - 15:29

Entry into the borderless Schengen area, made up of 25 countries, is regulated by common EU visa rules. Currently, citizens of most Balkan countries need visas also for short visits. The Commission has put forward plans to scrap the requirement for some but not for all Balkan EU neighbours. Will this drive new divisions through the region, and what does it mean for the EU internally? MEPs will question Commission and Council on Wednesday afternoon. Watch it live.

Karen AbuZayd, the Head of the UN Agency that provides food, health and housing to millions of Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) was at the European Parliament Thursday (11 September). She was there to hold talks with Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In an exclusive interview she told us that 60 years of refugees status for the Palestinians is nothing to celebrate, of her concern over Israeli settlements and that "periods of hope...have all been dashed and things have got worse".

"We are 53 diverse countries differently affected by the crisis, 1 billion people that cannot be ignored". That was the stark message to Members of Parliament's Development Committee from Donald Kaberuka, the head of Africa's Development Bank at a hearing on 3 September in Brussels. The economic crisis has hit the continent hard with falling commodity prices leading to reduced incomes.

Hillary Clinton at EP stresses need for climate action in Q&A exchanges

Article - External relations - 09-03-2009 - 10:37

Over 800 young Europeans crowded into the European Parliament Friday morning for a Question and Answer session with new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clearly enjoying herself and buoyed up by the warm reception, she said that the US would lead on climate change policies and push for a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine dispute. She also said that given the scale of the environmental and economic crisis this was a moment when European and Washington had to "come together".

In a troubled world wracked with terrorism, environmental destruction and where failed states threaten havoc, the EU and NATO should develop a closer relationship, according to a report to be debated by MEPs Wednesday. It calls for both sides to avoid competition and develop greater cooperation in crisis-management operations. It also calls on the EU to develop its own security and defence capabilities. However, some MEPs are critical of more EU involvement in NATO.

The Parliament's delegation for relations with countries in the Maghreb has recently returned from a visit to Morocco. Being just 14 kilometres away from Europe, Morocco has many similarities with its northern neighbours. During the visit from 25 to 29 January, MEPs also visited the disputed Western Sahara region.

A group of MEPs acting as election observers have given a cautious welcome to a constitutional referendum in Bolivia that gives more power to indigenous peoples. The tightly fought referendum laid out a number of key reforms such as allowing President Evo Morales to stand for re-election, state control over natural gas and limits on the size of land people can own.

The life story of President Obama and all that he embodies has boosted America's image in Europe. However, the old continent has not yet produced a similar figure and many are asking if it is indeed possible. We spoke to some young MEPs about opportunities for a similar "European dream".

After 3 weeks of fighting and over 1,300 dead, Gaza is once again open to journalists and visitors. In the midst of the fighting on 11 January, the UN helped a group of MEPs enter Gaza at the Rafah crossing to see for themselves what was happening. They share some of their experiences below. On 15 January the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

At present it is difficult to buy military equipment in another European country due to red tape. This means that taxpayers are not getting value for money as everything from night vision goggles to police helicopters are being produced for disparate markets. We spoke to German Liberal Alexander Graf Lambsdorff who has drawn up the EP position on new rules that will make it easier to buy and sell equipment across the EU.

"The life of a Palestinian has the same value as the life of an Israeli" said Parliament's President Hans-Gert Pöttering as he expressed his growing concern about the conflict in Gaza. He also urged all sides to halt the violence with immediate effect.

The recent high-profile hijacking of the Sirius Star oil tanker by Somali pirates finally provoked a reaction and last week the first EU naval operation was launched to try and protect shipping around the Gulf of Aden. However, MEPs familiar with Africa and security issues say it's not enough. They are divided over the causes of piracy and Europe's role in Somalia in the recent past.

China is now the third biggest exporter in the world and it has massive business potential for the European Union, but China has a less than exemplary human rights record. So, should the EU compromise its principles in the interest of trade with China?

November 26 2008 will be a date that resonates with the international community for many years to come. The world watched in horror as gunmen in Mumbai, India killed nearly 200 people, injuring countless more. Of the numerous nationalities affected by the atrocity, a delegation committee of MEPs were visiting in the city.

"Hopelessness, frustration and anger" are how a senior UN official described the feelings of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Karen Koning AbuZayd spoke to us on 11 November after she had met MEPs on the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees. She described the desperate plight of the Palestinians and how Europe is seen as an unbiased broker in peace negotiations.

"Historic" is on everyone's lips when describing the US election. As President-elect Barack Obama starts to build his Administration we asked leading MEPs Wednesday for their views on the US election and what challenges lie ahead in EU-US relations.

A plan to boost food production in developing countries and provide urgent food aid will be discussed by the Development Committee Wednesday. The aim is to use surplus money from the EU’s agriculture budget to help the poor. Joining the debate are key figures from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Programme. Parliament's rapporteur is Irish MEP Gay Mitchell of the centre right EPP-ED bloc. Ahead of the debate we asked him to talk us through the issues.

Africa week at the European Parliament (8-12 September) will bring the politics and culture of Africa to Brussels. A series of seminars, parliamentary debates, workshops and exhibitions will bring issues that matter to Africans to the forefront of debate. MPs from Africa and around the world will join MEPs to discuss issues such as immigration, the brain drain and the food crisis. The event is being held as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

On Monday, the heads of state and government, meeting for a special summit on the Georgia conflict condemned Russia’s intervention and recognition of the break-away regions in Georgia. They agreed to send a fact finding mission, to nominate a special representative and to suspend negotiations of a partnership agreement with Russia until Russian troops deployed after 7 August are completely withdrawn.

"Georgia is counting on us...Europe must not flinch" - Marie Anne Isler Béguin

Article - External relations - 27-08-2008 - 09:20

President of the EP delegation with the South Caucasus countries, Marie Anne Isler Béguin was in Georgia just a few days after the beginning of the conflict in South Ossetia. Appointed by EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering to represent the Parliament, she participated in the ceasefire negotiations after the first phase of hostilities, and travelled in some of the areas directly affected.

Once the breadbasket of Africa, Zimbabwe now faces starvation and rampant inflation. Its people are living in fear and Robert Mugabe's regime is persecuting all opposition. Against this backdrop a recent one-candidate Presidential election has been condemned internationally. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leads the opposition. Its representative in Europe, Hebson Makuvise, met MEPs on the Development Committee on 15 July. Whilst in parliament, we put a few questions to him.

The aim of Montenegro is to be ready to join the European Union by 2012. That was the goal Montenegro's PM Milo Djukanovic spelled out to MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee Monday. The former basketball player has led the former ex-Yugoslav state since 1991 and championed the successful "Yes" vote in a referendum on independence in 2006. We caught up with Mr Djukanovic and asked him about Montenegro's EU hopes, Kosovo and why the country is happy using the euro.

The US, indeed the whole world, seems transfixed by the early stages of the Presidential elections, culminating today, with Super Tuesday when 24 US states hold primaries and caucuses to select delegates who will elect their parties' candidate at the national convention. Elections US-style combine primaries and caucuses, town hall meetings, TV advertising, razzmatazz and big money. We asked some MEPs whether European politics have anything to learn or to envy from American-style politics?