Foreign Affairs MEPs to talk with the Commissioner for Neighbourhood
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18. Mai 2020 In Aktuell, EN

Foreign Affairs MEPs to talk with the Commissioner for Neighbourhood

MEPs will discuss with Olivér Várhelyi the Eastern Partnership policy as well as COVID-19-related EU support in the Neighbourhood and in Turkey

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi will address Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) MEPs on Tuesday on a range of issues, including the Eastern Partnership policy, current COVID-19-related EU support in the Neighbourhood and in Turkey, as well as the future of external financing instruments.

MEPs will exchange views with Commissioner Várhelyi in the afternoon, after having voted in the morning on the recommendation on the Eastern Partnership, in the run-up to the June 2020 Summit.

Background

Eastern Partnership

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative that aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU), its member states and its six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The sixth Eastern Partnership Summit is scheduled for 18 June.

COVID-19-related EU support in the Neighbourhood

The Commission announced in April that the EU’s financial support for the countries covered by European Neighbourhood Policy will amount to €3.07 billion: €2.1 billion for the southern neighbourhood, and €962 million for the eastern neighbourhood. €800 million will support the six western Balkan countries and Turkey.

The Parliament also approved last Friday €3 billion in loans to help EU neighbours and partner countries mitigate the negative social and economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

External financing instruments

The EU external financing instruments (EFIs) are the main mechanism through which the EU funds its actions on the global stage.

The European Union is the world’s largest provider of external assistance. It aims to reduce poverty, promote global and EU interests and fundamental values (such as democracy, human rights, peace, stability, solidarity, and prosperity) and support the safeguarding of global public goods.

When: Tuesday, 19 May, from 16.30 to 18.30 CET

Where: European Parliament in Brussels, Antall building, room (4Q2), and via videoconference.

You can follow the meeting live

The agenda and meeting documents are available here.