Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) - European Parliament

The quest for oil markets abroad can be seen as an attempt by US companies to find higher prices and profits and avoid bankruptcy, since the current low price of oil, resulting from OPEC's strategy of oversupplying the market, is making shale-oil production in the US less and less profitable. The impact of potential US oil exports on the European Union's energy security is expected to be limited in the short term. The oil market is oversupplied, prices are depressed and are only expected to increase slightly if OPEC and other producers agree to stabilise production, and Europe can find alternative suppliers easily. These now include Iran, which has the world's fourth-largest reserves of oil, since sanctions were lifted in January following the nuclear deal. The US ban on natural gas exports is still in force. Should it be removed, as part of a TTIP deal or under changes to domestic law, the US has the potential to become a net gas exporter. However, as the US can get higher prices on Asian markets and as both the US and the EU have limited LNG infrastructures, the EU is an unlikely destination for large LNG imports from the US in the short run. Europe can obtain gas from a plethora of suppliers, now including Iran, which has the world's second-largest reserves of gas. The long-term outlook is more promising, as US LNG export capacities are expected to rise significantly in the coming decade and EU Member States may decide to diversify supplier countries and routes, under the European Energy Security Strategy, rather than allowing short-term commercial interests to prevail.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on the fight against trafficking in human beings in the EU’s external relations
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Barbara Lochbihler

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on 2015 Report on Kosovo; 2015/2893 (RSP)

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
to wind up the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
on the 2015 report on Serbia
(2015/2892(RSP))
David McAllister
on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The 2007 European Union (EU) Strategy for Central Asia was reviewed for the fourth time in 2015. Over the last eight years, the EU has successfully established several institutionalised mechanisms for strengthening relations and working with Central Asian governments, including an increased presence on the ground. Despite this, the EU’s engagement in Central Asia is one of limited to no impact. The region has become more unstable; forecast gas deliveries from the region to Europe have so far not materialised; trade is minimal with the exception of EU-Kazakhstan links, democracy is seen by the Central Asian regimes as a threat to their survival; corruption severely undermines economic development and siphons off much of the development aid; and the human rights situation has been backsliding. The EU should not and cannot compete with Russia and China in the region. The EU would do best to focus on a few key areas where it can achieve concrete results. Besides broader economic and some security cooperation, the EU should focus on education in supporting the region’s development while further emphasizing human rights and strengthening political and financial support to civil society.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Length of video : 224'
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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The start of EU accession negotiations with Serbia and the progress made in normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs in two resolutions passed on Thursday. They also stressed that these relations would be helped if all EU member states were to recognise Kosovo.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on Peace Support Operations - EU engagement with the UN and the African Union
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Geoffrey Van Orden

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on Space capabilities for European security and defence
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Location : Brussels JAN 2Q2
Further information
Programme
Poster
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 15 - Draft opinion on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, Section III - Commission and executive agencies
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 18 - Draft opinion on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, Section X - European External Action Service
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 270 - Draft motion for a resolution on the 2015 Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 155 - Draft motion for a resolution on the 2015 Report on Montenegro
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Parliament's Press Service is holding a seminar on the EU's response to terrorism. The discussions are set to focus on the European Agenda for Security, highlighting the proposal for a directive to combat terrorism, a firearms directive, a new data protection directive, and a directive on a high common level of network information security. This thematic digest provides selected policy department publications prepared to support the committees in their work related to these issues.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Length of video : 207'
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Disclaimer : The interpretation of debates serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record of proceedings. Only the original speech or the revised written translation is authentic.
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 232 - Draft motion for a resolution 2015 Report on Kosovo
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on The EU in a changing global environment - a more connected, contested and complex world
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Sandra Kalniete

Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP