Highlights of Committee on Foreign Affairs and Subcommittees on Security and Defence and Human Rights – 25–27 May
Highlights of meetings next week
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Wednesday, 26 May 2021, 9.00 – 18.45, Brussels: SPAAK 1A2 and remote participation
Votes
• Report on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Bosnia and Herzegovina 2019/2171(INI). Rapporteur: Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT) – Adoption of amendments
• EU-NATO cooperation in the context of transatlantic relations 2020/2257(INI). Rapporteur: Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE (EPP, ES) – Adoption of amendments
Debates
• Exchange of views with Makhdoom SHAH MAHMOOD QURESHI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan
• Exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan with Tomas NIKLASSON, Acting Special Envoy of the European Union for Afghanistan – European External Action Service (EEAS). Jointly with the Committee on Development and in association with the Delegation for relations with Afghanistan. (10.00 – 11.00)
• Resolution on EU global human rights sanctions regime (EU Magnitsky Act) 2021/2563(RSP) – Exchange of views on the basis of motion for a resolution. Jointly with the Subcommittee on Human Rights. (11.00 – 12.00)
• Exchange of views with Peter Lord BOWNESS, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. (15.15 – 16.15)
• Direction of EU-Russia political relations 2021/2042(INI). Rapporteur: Andrius KUBILIUS (EPP, LT) – Consideration of draft report. (16.45 – 17.30)
Thursday, 27 May 2021, 9.00 – 15.15, Brussels: SPAAK 1A2 and remote participation
Debates
• Public Hearing: Collective Security in the Gulf (draft programme). Jointly with the Subcommittee on Security and Defence.(9.00 – 11.00)
• EU-Taiwan relations and cooperation 2021/2041(INI). Rapporteur: Charlie WEIMERS (ECR, SE) – Consideration of draft report. (11.00 – 12.00)
Subcommittee on Human Rights
Tuesday 25 May 2021, 13.45 – 18.45, Brussels: Altiero Spinelli 1G3 and remote participation
Debates
• The persecution of minorities on the grounds of belief or religion 2021/2055(INI). Rapporteur: Karol KARSKI (ECR, PL) – Consideration of draft report. in the presence of: Fernand DE VARENNES, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues; Androulla KAMINARA, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the EU to Pakistan;- Ralph TARRAF, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the EU to Lebanon; Ketil KARLSEN, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the EU to Nigeria.
• Workshop on Large Sporting Events: Human Rights as a Game Changer? (programme). In association with the Committee on Culture and Education.(15.00 – 16.15)
• Opening meeting of the EU-U.S. Strategic Inter-parliamentary Consultation on Human Rights with the U.S Helsinki Commission (draft programme). (17.30 – 18.30)
Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Tuesday 25 May 2021, 9.00 – 18.45, Brussels: Altiero Spinelli 3E2 and remote participation
Debates
• Exchange of views with Jan HAVRÁNEK, Deputy Minister for Defence Policy and Strategy of the Czech Republic on the malign role of Russia in the 2014 explosion of an ammunition depot in Vrbětice, as well as on the recently agreed National Strategy for Countering Hybrid Interference
• EU-NATO cooperation in the context of transatlantic relations 2020/2257(INI). Rapporteur: Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ WHITE (EPP, ES) – Adoption of amendments
• Military Mobility: the implementation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) project and the European Commission’s programme. Exchange of views with Arnault MOLENAAR, Head of Division, Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service (EEAS); Sander VAN DER SLUIS, Head of EU Defence Policy Section, Dutch Ministry of Defence; Eddy LIEGEOIS, Head of Unit Transport Network, Directorate General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission (EC). (13.45 – 16.15)
• Out of control: non-proliferation and control of missiles and associated technologies in the post-Intermediate Nuclear Forces era. Exchange of views with: Emmanuelle MAÎTRE, Research fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS); Angela KANE, Senior Fellow, Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non Proliferation (VCDNP) and former United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; Douglas BARRIE, Senior Fellow for Military Aerospace, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). In association with the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and with the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee
• Exchange of views on the Russian military build-up on the Eastern-Ukrainian border, in the illegally annexed Crimea and in the Black Sea with: Ambassador William B. TAYLOR, Vice President, Strategic Stability and Security at the United States Institute of Peace; Luc DEVIGNE, Acting Managing Director; Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE; European External Action Service (EEAS). (16.45 – 18.45)
• Debrief with Charles FRIES, Deputy Secretary General of the EEAS for Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and crises response on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council – Defence, including on the “Next steps in the Strategic Compass”
Information to the media about COVID-19 precautions
In an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Parliament is reducing the need for physical meetings on its premises, without compromising its role of democratic scrutiny nor its ability to approve the necessary legislative measures to combat the virus and support the public, consumers, businesses and emergency services.
The required social distancing of 1.5 m must be respected on EP premises at all times. Any parliamentary activities, like committee and plenary meetings, which are still taking place will be web-streamed and can be followed by the media without requiring their physical presence on EP premises. MEPs, Commissioners, Council representatives and other invitees will be able to participate remotely.
Anyone wishing to enter Parliament’s premises must wear either a surgical mask or an FFP2 respiratory mask as of 8 March. You will not be allowed to enter Parliament wearing a ‘community mask’ or any mask made of textiles.