Commissie buitenlandse zaken

On 2 October, ENVI Committee, in association with AFET, DEVE and ITRE Committees, will hold the hearing of Mr. Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner designate for Climate Action, as part of the process to replace Executive Vice- President Frans Timmermans, following his resignation from the European Commission on 22 August.

On 5 October 2023 Members of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and on Budgets (BUDG) will vote on the draft report by the co-rapporteurs, Michael Gahler (AFET, EPP) and Eider Gardiazábal Rubial (BUDG, S&D). The draft report endorses a substantial assistance package, while strengthening democratic accountability of the Facility, encouraging multiparty democracy in Ukraine, and encouraging the alignment of Ukraine with the requirements for the EU accession.

The nominees for this year’s Prize will be presented by the political groups in a joint meeting of the Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and on Development (DEVE) and the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) in Brussels on 20 September, 14:30-15:30. Each year, the Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to honour exceptional individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. In 2022, the Prize was awarded to the Brave People of Ukraine.

A delegation of AFET Members will travel to the UK from 18 to 19 September 2023. This will be the first time that the committee travels to the UK since 31 January 2020 when the United Kingdom officially left the EU. The AFET delegation will discuss possibilities for strengthened partnership and deepening dialogue on issues of importance in relevant areas of bilateral cooperation, including in foreign and security affairs.

On 7 September the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, will address Members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and its Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE). The discussion will come shortly after the NATO Summit in Vilnius where Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance have again reaffirmed the enduring transatlantic bond, unity, cohesion, and solidarity at a critical time for international peace and stability.

A delegation of AFET members will travel to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from 21 to 25 August 2023. The AFET delegation will discuss the regional developments and the potential for closer cooperation in the current challenging geopolitical context, including the impact of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the introduction of EU sanctions on Russia.

A delegation of AFET members will travel to Japan and Taiwan from 24 to 27 July 2023. This mission would contribute to strengthening the cooperation with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The AFET visit to Japan and Taiwan will allow discussing the regional dimension and further geopolitical developments in both the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea region.