Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) - European Parliament

Members of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees voted on Thursday morning for the three finalists of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
Subcommittee on Human Rights

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

A delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), led by MEP Matjaž Nemec (S&D, SI) traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 16 to 18 September 2025. This was the first official visit of the AFET Committee to the Western Balkans in the 10th legislative term.
The visit aimed to underline the Committee's commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina's European integration, grounded in unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity. Members discussed Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress, and the further reforms needed to advance in its accession path towards the EU.
Press release
Mission report
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MISSION REPORT following the ad hoc mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 16 to 18 September 2025
Committee on Foreign Affairs

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AMENDMENTS 1 - 324 - Draft report Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2025
Committee on Foreign Affairs
David McAllister

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AMENDMENTS 325 - 698 - Draft report Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2025
Committee on Foreign Affairs
David McAllister

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

AMENDMENTS 699 - 825 - Draft report Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2025
Committee on Foreign Affairs
David McAllister

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Opinion on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on information security in the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union
Committee on Foreign Affairs
David McAllister

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AMENDMENTS 21 - 172 - Draft opinion Amending Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 as regards the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin at Union level
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Marco Tarquinio

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Next AFET committee meeting will be held on:

• Thursday, 16 October (09.00-12.45), room ANTALL 6Q2, Brussels

Meetings are webstreamed with the exception of agenda items held "in camera".

AFET - DROI calendar of meetings 2025
Meeting documents
Webstreaming
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Coordinated action, stronger defence, and sanctions needed to counter Russian provocations targeting EU security and infrastructure.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Security and Defence

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MEPs call for aid to reach all earthquake victims in Afghanistan, where the regime’s restrictive gender policies are obstructing aid deliveries.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 23 September, the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Development, together with the Subcommittee on Human Rights, presented the candidates for this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, one of the most important events of the European Parliament. On 16 October, the AFET and DEVE committees will meet again to narrow down the list of nominees to a three-candidate shortlist, via a secret vote.
Each year the Sakharov Prize reaffirms the European Parliament's unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights, a founding principle of the European Union. The winning 2025 laureate(s) will be announced on 22 October by the Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders) and an exchange of views with the laureate(s) will take place in a joint Committee meeting on 15 December. The Prize will be presented to the laureate(s) at an award ceremony during the December plenary, on 16 December.
Sakharov Prize website
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Thursday, 16 October 2025, the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Committee on Development (DEVE) will organise a joint public hearing on "Global Gateway – past impacts and future orientation". This hearing brings together experts and stakeholders to discuss the achievements and challenges of the Global Gateway strategy, launched by the Commission in 2021.

The hearing will allow Members to take stock of the results so far, and to provide guidance for future implementation. The hearing's takes will contribute to the ongoing work in AFET and DEVE on an own-initiative report on Global Gateway, which will also address the governance structure, the geopolitical considerations of the approach, as well as the emerging relation with the EU's development cooperation. The own initiative report is expected to be presented on 20 November, the vote in Plenary is planned for March 2026.

AFET hearings
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

AMENDMENTS 10 - 91 - Draft report Amending Regulation (EU) 2021/947 as regards increased efficiency of the External Action Guarantee
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Development
David McAllister, Charles Goerens

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Thursday, 16 October 2025, the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Committee on Development (DEVE) will organise a joint public hearing on "Global Gateway – past impacts and future orientation". This hearing brings together experts and stakeholders to discuss the achievements and challenges of the Global Gateway strategy, launched by the Commission in 2021.

The hearing will allow Members to take stock of the results so far, and to provide guidance for future implementation. The hearing's takes will contribute to the ongoing work in AFET and DEVE on an own-initiative report on Global Gateway, which will also address the governance structure, the geopolitical considerations of the approach, as well as the emerging relation with the EU's development cooperation. The own initiative report is expected to be presented on 20 November, the vote in Plenary is planned for March 2026.
Location : Antall 6Q2
Draft programme
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

A delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), led by Chair David McAllister, travelled to Washington D.C. and Richmond, Virginia from 21 to 24 July 2025. This was the Committee's first official visit to the United States following last year's elections on both sides of the Atlantic.
During the trip, Members discussed how to deepen transatlantic ties, enhance collective security, reinforce the shared commitment to supporting Ukraine, and tackle common challenges such as China's expanding global influence and the situation in the Middle East. Insights gathered from the visit will inform the Committee's ongoing work on the own initiative report on EU-US political relations.
Location : USA
Press release
Mission report
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

A delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), led by Chair David McAllister, traveled to Ottawa and Toronto from 16 to 18 September 2025. This was the AFET Committee's first official visit to Canada under the European Parliament's current mandate and after the 2025 Canadian federal elections.
During the trip, Members discussed how to further strengthen the EU's strategic partnership with Canada, reinforce the shared commitment to supporting Ukraine, and jointly address challenges such as the situation in the Middle East, China's growing global influence and geopolitical competition in the Arctic. Insights gathered from the visit will inform the Committee's ongoing work on the Recommendation on enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context.
Press release
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP