Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) - European Parliament

Implementation of the EU external financing instruments: mid-term review 2017 and the future post-2020 architecture
Establishing a framework for screening of foreign direct investments into the European Union
Conclusion of the Framework Agreement between the EU and its Member States, of the one part, and Australia, of the other part
Accompanying resolution to the consent on the Conclusion of the Framework Agreement between the EU and its Member States, of the one part, and Australia, of the other part
Protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Uzbekistan, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union
Framework Agreement between the EU and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Korea, on the other hand, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the EU
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

International trade agreements have the potential to help breaking the vicious circle of corruption in economies based on privileged connections rather than fair competition. They increase competition in the removal of tariffs and so diminish the power of rentier companies which influence domestic regulation in their favour. They also contribute to a fairer business environment through their transparency provisions. Trade openness, red tape reduction and fiscal transparency, especially transparency of procurement, play positive roles in widening control of corruption. They can be more easily influenced by external actors than the other important control of corruption factors: judicial independence, freedom of the press or the demand from civil society for good governance. This study ordered by the INTA Committee argues that indirect good governance policies which increase competition and subvert power and economic monopolies or quasi monopolies are far more effective than direct anticorruption policies, which in relying on domestic implementation tend to fall into the vicious circle again. The study presents options characterised as an ‘economist’s approach’ with an apparently more modest but effective good governance package, a ‘lawyer’s’ approach’ with firm anticorruption language but unenforceable provisions even in EU countries (on bribery, for instance), and a ‘holistic’ approach where the EU would coordinate across international trade, promotion of norms and development aid. The three options may be used alternatively, depending on the degree of development and quality of governance of the trading partner. The study was presented at a workshop of the INTA committee on 24 January 2018.
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 62'
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Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 101'
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Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 149'
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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, 2018 - EP

DRAFT REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Eugen Freund

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 70'
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Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

The next AFET meeting is scheduled to take place on:

Thursday, 12 April 2018, 09:00-12:30, room JAN 2Q2

Further information
Information for visitors
Draft agendas
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 116'
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Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 201'
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Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 54'
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Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Length of video : 75'
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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, 2018 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 69 - Draft report Recommendation to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

This study analyses the various options for the future trade relations between the EU and the UK, after Brexit. It examines the various models against the canvas of two distinct paradigms: market integration and trade liberalization. It finds that an intermediate model, which would allow for continued convergence and mutual recognition in some sectors/freedoms, but not others, is unavailable and cannot easily be constructed for legal, institutional, and political reasons. The stark choice is between a customs union/free trade agreement, or continued internal market membership through the EEA or an equivalent agreement. The study further analyses the effects of Brexit on the UK’s continued participation in the trade agreements concluded by the EU. Notwithstanding a range of complexities, the study finds that such continued participation is not automatic but subject to negotiation.
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

DRAFT REPORT containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part
Committee on Foreign Affairs
László Tőkés

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 232 - Draft report Towards an EU external strategy against early and forced marriages - next steps
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

In the evening of Monday 12 March, the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) had an exchange of views with Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE). The meeting was a good occasion to discuss how cooperation between the Parliament and the CoE could be strengthened even further.
Mr Jagland also debriefed AFET on his recent visit to Turkey where he met with President Erdoğan, several Ministers as well as the President of the Constitutional Court and opposition parties' representatives. Other likely topics included the situation in Eastern Ukraine and the Western Balkans.
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

This report summarises the presentations and the discussion that took place at the workshop on Climate Diplomacy held on 20 February 2018 at the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels. It was organised by the Policy Department of the Directorate General for External Policies (DG EXPO) and Policy Department A in the Directorate General for Internal Policies (DG IPOL) at the request of the EP’s Committees on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The workshop provided members of the AFET and ENVI Committees and all participants with insights from experts on the state of play with climate diplomacy and provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of the EU in this field. MEPs Jo Leinen and Arne Lietz, co-rapporteurs of the EP’s own-initiative report on climate diplomacy, hosted the workshop.
Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP