How to watch the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting ICM

Opening of meeting and framing of enlargement agenda

David McAllister PPE

The chair formally opens the interparliamentary meeting, sets the procedural framework, and presents enlargement as the central theme, outlining the two-session structure and expectations for parliamentary engagement. He situates enlargement in the current geopolitical context and prepares the ground for the Commission’s strategic input.

In this chapter

1. Opening of interparliamentary meeting and agendaDavid McAllister
2. Session 1 setup: ‘EU Enlargement: Seizing the Momentum’David McAllister

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Conference ‘The Brussels Dialogue’

Gannushkina: internal situation in Russia and need for new international norms

Svetlana Gannushkina describes socio-economic decline, destruction of judicial independence, constitutional violations on citizenship and education, pervasive fear and political imprisonment in Russia, while calling for international solidarity, EU involvement in ceasefire arrangements, and future-oriented cooperation and agreements that would effectively outlaw war for coming generations.

In this chapter

1. Gannushkina: appeal for global solidarity and diagnosis of democratic crisis
2. Gannushkina: socio-economic decline and collapse of judiciary
3. Gannushkina: constitutional violations: citizenship stripping and education

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Conference ‘The Brussels Dialogue’

Parliament Presidency and transition to Russian civil society voices

Roberta Metsola PPE

President Metsola reaffirms Parliament’s backing for a democratic Russia and cooperation with its democratic forces, after which the chair redirects the debate towards Russia’s internal situation of repression, forced exile and imprisonment, introducing Svetlana Gannushkina as a key civil society voice.

In this chapter

1. President Metsola video: Parliament’s backing for democratic RussiaRoberta Metsola
2. Chair: shifting to Russia’s internal situation and Gannushkina intro

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Conference ‘The Brussels Dialogue’

UN Special Rapporteur: repression in Russia and EU obligations

UN Rapporteur Katsarova details systemic repression in Russia, including persecution of NGOs, lawyers, minorities and political prisoners, and urges the EU to shift from ad hoc solidarity to structural support and protection for Russian civil society, uphold non-refoulement in asylum and return policies, ease visas and banking for vetted defenders, and enable exiled organizations to operate safely in Europe.

In this chapter

1. UN Rapporteur Katsarova: escalation of repression in Russia
2. Katsarova: lawyers under attack and civil society in exile
3. Katsarova: structural EU support for Russian civil society

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Conference ‘The Brussels Dialogue’

Parliament Vice-President: war context and protection of dissidents

Ville Niinistö and 1 other

Vice-President Picierno links Russia’s aggression against Ukraine to internal repression and democratic backsliding, highlights the role of Russian dissidents and transnational repression, and calls for EU-wide mechanisms to protect at-risk activists and journalists as a matter of European security and responsibility.

In this chapter

1. Vice-President Picierno: opening and war–democracy nexusVille Niinistö
2. Picierno: dissidents’ role and transnational repressionPina Picierno
3. Picierno: EU-wide protection mechanisms and Europe’s responsibilityPina Picierno

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Conference ‘The Brussels Dialogue’

Opening of Brussels Dialogue and procedural framework

Ville Niinistö Verts/ALE

The chair formally opens the Brussels Dialogue, recalls Parliament’s mandate for structured engagement with Russian democratic forces, explains the mix of public and closed-door formats, and sets out interpretation, security and schedule rules for the sitting.

In this chapter

1. Chair: opening, objectives and format
2. Interpretation, security rules and daily scheduleVille Niinistö

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

MEPs’ questions: funding conditions, indicators, responsibilities

Michael Gahler and 5 others

MEPs Gahler, Sánchez Amor, Tânger Corrêa, Zovko, Ridel, Stier and the Chair challenge the design of EU–UN projects, insist on programming oversight, demand measurable results and safeguards, and press for clearer legal responsibilities, lessons learned, accountability and EU visibility.

In this chapter

1. MEP Gahler and Nacho: cooperation mechanics, visibility, responsibilitiesMichael Gahler
2. MEP Tanger-Correa and Zovko: indicators, misuse risks, UN accountabilityAntónio Tânger Corrêa
3. MEPs Ridel and Stier, Chair: gender, SDG16, accountability and visibilityChloé Ridel

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Country case studies: EU–UN prevention and stabilization

Presentation of concrete EU–UN joint operations in Moldova, Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, the Sahel, DRC and CAR, illustrating how peacebuilding, early recovery and mission drawdowns are managed in practice.

In this chapter

1. EU–UN concrete cooperation examples: Moldova, Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti
2. UN peacebuilding country cases: Sahel, DRC, CAR

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Opening context: EU–UN peacebuilding and MFF

David McAllister PPE

Introductory framing of EU–UN cooperation on prevention and peacebuilding, its link to the MFF and multilateralism, and the strategic and financial case for moving prevention to the center of EU external action.

In this chapter

1. EU–UN peacebuilding partnership and MFF context
2. UN Assistant SG Spehar: strategic case for preventionDavid McAllister

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Later AFET sitting: formal opening and CFSP deadlines

In a subsequent meeting, the Chair formally opens proceedings, validates the agenda and previous minutes, confirms the next AFET date, and extends the amendment deadline for the report on implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Post‑Assad Syria: EU strategy, political conditions and expert scenarios

David McAllister and 4 others

The rapporteur and political groups define an EU approach to Syria based on conditional, reversible engagement and strict criteria on transition, refugees and regional actors, followed by EEAS/Commission implementation priorities and detailed funding tools, and an expert presentation with Q&A on future Syrian political scenarios, EU leverage and risks of reinforcing authoritarian structures.

In this chapter

1. EU–Syria political relations report: post‑Assad engagement frameworkDavid McAllister
2. Syria report: political group red lines on conditionality, refugees and regional actorsIngeborg Ter Laak
3. Syria report: EEAS and Commission implementation priorities and fundingDavid McAllister

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Pact for the Mediterranean: objectives, party lines and EU instruments

David McAllister and 8 others

The Chair and rapporteur set out the political context, co‑ownership approach and MFF funding needs for the new Pact for the Mediterranean, political groups outline divergent priorities on migration, security and conditionality, and the Commission/EEAS detail the Pact’s pillars, action plan, and planned crisis‑management and peace‑and‑security initiatives before procedural deadlines are announced.

In this chapter

1. Pact for the Mediterranean: context, co‑ownership and financial frameworkDavid McAllister
2. Pact for the Mediterranean: party positions on migration, security and fundingMassimiliano Salini
3. Pact for the Mediterranean: Commission, EEAS, crisis‑management proposal and rapporteur replyDavid McAllister

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Enlargement and neighbourhood reports: Moldova to water governance

Stanislav Stoyanov and 4 others

Members consider and vote on a series of enlargement and neighbourhood files, Moldova, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, balancing political sensitivities, secession concerns and fragile compromises, before swiftly adopting the joint AFET/DEVE recommendation on transnational water governance for peace.

In this chapter

1. Moldova 2025 report: broad support, minority view and voteStanislav Stoyanov
2. Serbia 2023 report: sensitive political assessment and tight votesDavid McAllister
3. Kosovo 2025 report: deadlock context and swift adoptionDavid McAllister

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Ukraine report: debate, amendments and adoption

David McAllister and 3 others

The committee addresses the Commission report on Ukraine, contrasting the rapporteur’s consensus line with minority objections, then proceeds through a full amendment voting sequence before adopting the Ukraine report by roll‑call.

In this chapter

1. Ukraine report: rapporteur’s line and minority objectionsDavid McAllister
2. Ukraine report: amendment votes and final adoptionDavid McAllister

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Development

Objection to Commission decision on Tanzania annual action plan: joint vote

The chair opens item 5, the joint AFET–DEVE vote on an objection to the Commission implementing decision on financing the 2026 annual action plan for Tanzania; Vice‑Chair Biedroń outlines the fast‑tracked objection procedure and timing for plenary, after which a test vote and the roll‑call vote are held, resulting in adoption by 81 in favor, 1 against, and 4 abstentions.

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Development

Welcome to international visitors (Croatia, Kiribati, Solomon Islands)

David McAllister PPE

McAllister continues with the agenda by formally welcoming visiting delegations from Split‑Dalmatia County (Croatia) and parliamentarians from Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, highlighting their presence at the committee votes and inviting applause.

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Development

Procedural announcements: webstreaming, coordinators’ decisions, minutes

McAllister confirms adoption of the agenda, announces webstreaming and interpretation, reports that AFET coordinators’ 5 May decisions are on the intranet, and proposes adoption of the March AFET meeting minutes without changes.

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Development

Point of order: allegation on Ukraine ‘concentration camps’

David McAllister PPE

An MEP (Mr Brown) raises a point of order referring to a letter by Ukrainian brothers Kononovich and alleging the existence of labour concentration camps in several Ukrainian locations, before being cut off at the one‑minute limit and the chair returning to the agenda.

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting Joint meeting Committee on Development

Opening of joint AFET–DEVE meeting: agenda adoption

David McAllister PPE

Chair McAllister opens the joint AFET–DEVE meeting, notes time pressure due to AFET votes, and proposes adoption of the agenda if there are no objections.

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Closing exchange on sanctions, ceasefire, NATO path and democracy

Oleksandr Merezhko and 3 others

Merezhko highlights sanctions circumvention in Russian drones, rejects Moscow’s ceasefire proposal and frames EU accession as a strategic response, then a follow‑up Q&A covers NATO’s 2024 decision, reconstruction initiatives and a Nazi‑propaganda allegation that he rebuts by stressing Ukraine’s democratic credentials, before the AFET chair formally concludes the Ukraine agenda item.

In this chapter

1. Merezhko: sanctions circumvention, ceasefire proposal and accession as strategyOleksandr Merezhko
2. Follow‑up Q&A: NATO path, reconstruction, Nazi-propaganda allegation and rebuttalDavid McAllister
3. Conclusion of Ukraine item and suspension of meetingDavid McAllister

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Broader MEP questions: survival, frontline, sanctions and mobilisation

Jaak Madison and 8 others

Additional group speakers query Ukraine’s survival priorities, mobilisation and societal resilience, assessment of the frontline and Russia’s ceasefire proposal, and the effectiveness and architecture of sanctions, followed by Ukrainian opposition and majority MPs detailing sanctions gaps, accession conditions, rule‑of‑law and anti‑corruption reforms, battlefield needs, minorities law, parliament functioning and long‑war scenarios including demographic and humanitarian pressures.

In this chapter

1. Other groups’ first round: survival priorities, mobilisation, frontline and sanctionsJaak Madison
2. Ukrainian opposition (Ionova): sanctions, full membership, rule of law and battlefield gapsMaria Ionova
3. Bezugla: corruption in war, EU examples and strategic outlook to 2030Mariana Bezuhla

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

First MEP round: Ukraine Facility, sanctions and minorities

David McAllister and 4 others

EPP, S&D and Patriots Group MEPs question the Ukrainian side on implementation and coordination around the Ukraine Facility, planning for NPAA/MPPA and an accession working group, and press on national minorities’ rights, education-language rules and legal safeguards linked to accession conditionality.

In this chapter

1. EPP & S&D: Ukraine Facility, planning and working group ideaDavid McAllister
2. Patriots Group: national minorities and legal commitmentsViktória Ferenc

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Exchange with Verkhovna Rada: EU support, accession and war priorities

David McAllister and 1 other

Following the end of voting, AFET holds an exchange of views with Ukrainian parliamentary representatives on military support needs, sanctions and accession timelines, with political groups questioning Ukraine’s use of the Ukraine Facility, reforms and defence posture, and an opposition MP detailing positions on rule of law, anti‑corruption, security risks and regional relations.

In this chapter

1. Opening exchange: political context and Ukrainian prioritiesDavid McAllister
2. EP political groups: questions on Ukraine facility, accession and war effortDavid McAllister
3. Verkhovna Rada opposition: EU accession, rule of law and frontline needs

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

Opening: AFET agenda and Ukrainian war priorities

David McAllister and 1 other

The AFET chair opens the meeting with the Ukrainian delegation, sets the agenda on the war and EU accession, outlines recent EU financial and sanctions decisions, and Verkhovna Rada chair Merezhko details Ukraine’s urgent military needs, sanctions demands and targeted accession timeline.

In this chapter

1. Opening: agenda, Ukraine context and EU accessionDavid McAllister
2. Verkhovna Rada Chair: military needs, sanctions, accession timelineOleksandr Merezhko

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Committee on Foreign Affairs Ordinary meeting

AFET voting session: enlargement, OCT and consular protection

David McAllister and 4 others

The committee meeting opens and proceeds through a structured voting block covering the report on countering transnational repression, the 2023/2025 enlargement reports on Georgia, Albania and Montenegro, and the opinion on the OCT/Greenland association and consular protection measures, concluding the formal voting session.

In this chapter

1. Opening of AFET meeting and start of votesDavid McAllister
2. 2023 Commission report on Georgia: debate and adoptionRasa Juknevičienė
3. Enlargement files: Albania and Montenegro reportsDavid McAllister
4. Committee voting session on OCT/Greenland and consular protectionDavid McAllister

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