Oliver Varhelyi, born on 22 March 1972 in Szeged, is a Hungarian diplomat. Since 2015, he has headed the Hungarian EU representation in Brussels. Varhelyi is Commissioner-designate for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

After the hearing by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designate

Josep Borrell Fontelles, born on 24 April 1947 in La Pobla de Segur, is a Spanish politician. He was Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009 and President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007. Borrell is High Representative/Vice-President designate for foreign affairs and security policy.

After the hearing by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate.

Hearing of Josep BORRELL, EU´s High Representative

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Volker Türk comes to the EU Parliament for the first time in this legislature. In an exchange of views with AFET - DROI MEPs in committee meeting, they discuss news topics in the field of geopolitics and human rights, before the adoption of the annual report on Human rights by the EP in plenary session, tentatively in March 2025.

AFET/DROI- Debate with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk

Kaja Kallas was Member of the EP from 2014 to 2018, Estonian Prime Minister since 2021 and she is now High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, in the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President designate

Marta Kos is self-employed, working through Kos Consulting and Coaching since 2021. From 2017 to 2021, she was the Slovenian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the Ambassador to Germany and Latvia (2013-2017). She is now the European Commissioner-designate for Enlargement, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Marta KOS, Commissioner-designate, Enlargement

Andrius Kubilius was Lithuanian Prime Minister (1999-2000, 2008-2012), Member of the European Parliament since 2019 and he is now European Commissioner-designate for Defence and Space, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Andrius KUBILIUS, Commissioner-designate, Defence and Space

Dubravka Šuica was Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography in the von der Leyen Commission I and Member of the European Parliament from 2013 to 2019. She is now European Commissioner-designate for the Mediterranean, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Dubravka ŠUICA, Commissioner-designate, Mediterranean

The Foreign Affairs and Development committees vote to shortlist three finalists for the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. David McAllister, AFET Chair, Barry Andrews, DEVE Chair, and Mounir Satouri, DROI Chair, give statements after the announcement.

The Sakharov Prize is the EU's highest tribute to human rights work, recognizing those who contribute to protecting freedom of thought. The candidates include María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia from Venezuela, Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh from the “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun” movement in Israel/Palestine, Elon Musk from the United States, Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu from Azerbaijan, and journalists in Palestine including Hamza and Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh, and Ain Media. The Conference of Presidents selects the winner on 24 October, and the award ceremony takes place on 18 December in Strasbourg.

Announcement of the 3 finalists for Sakharov Prize 2024

EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (D-RU) exchange views on the inhuman detention and death of Alexei NAVALNY, 2021 Sakharov Price Laureate.

MEPs also discuss the state of Russia’s democratic opposition movement ahead of the country’s presidential elections scheduled for 15-17 March 2024, as well as the situation of all those Russian opposition voices currently behind bars.

The following guests give testimonies to MEPs: Leonid Volkov, Chief of staff of Alexei Navalny, Anti-Corruption Foundation: Evgenia Kara-Murza, Advocacy Director at the Free Russia Foundation, wife of political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza: Vladimir Milov, Vice-President of the Free Russia Foundation, former Vice-Minister of Energy of Russia

AFET/DROI debate on Alexei Navalny´s death

AFET - Exchange of views with Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina

AFET - Public hearing on the EU–US political relations

AFET INTA - EU-UK Summit debriefing

AFET D-ME joint meeting - Exchange of views with Filip Ivanović, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for Foreign and European Affairs

EUDS AFET SEDE - Public hearing on Russia’s hybrid threats and attacks in Europe, including best practices to counter them

AFET INTA - The implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

AFET Working group on Western Balkans  - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement on the state of play of the enlargement process with regard to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia

AFET - Presentation of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) Annual Report 2024

AFET Committee - Meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

AFET - Exchange of views with Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean

Press point AFET - The foreign policy priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU

AFET - Presentation of the Priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council

AFET Interparliamentary Committee Meeting - Towards a multipolar world – what role for the European Union?

AFET Interparliamentary Committee Meeting - Transatlantic relations in challenging times

DROI Committee - Exchange of views with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

AFET - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement

AFET DEVE DROI  joint Committee meeting with Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 laureates

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2024 - Interviews with laureates

David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee and Radoslaw SIKORSKI, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, give a joint press conference on the foreign policy priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, in Brussels. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), Chair of AFET Committee and Radoslaw SIKORSKI, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the foreign policy priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Volker Türk comes to the EU Parliament for the first time in this legislature. In an exchange of views with the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) jointly with the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), they discuss news topics in the field of geopolitics and human rights, before the adoption of the annual report on Human rights by the EP in plenary session, tentatively in March 2025.

Exchange of views with Volker TÜRK, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: extracts from the meeting and statement by Volker TÜRK, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Committees on Foreign Affairs and Security and Defence and the Delegation for Relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meet Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for the first time. In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the incoming US administration, the topics discussed include efforts to strengthen NATO defence and deterrence as well as the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine. MEPs also inquire about other regional and global security threats that require close cooperation between the EU and NATO.

Exchange of views with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO): extracts - AFET Committee, SEDE Subcommittee and Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

The Committees on Foreign Affairs and Security (AFET) and Defence (SEDE) and the Delegation for Relations with the National Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for the first time. In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the incoming US administration, the topics discussed include efforts to strengthen NATO defence and deterrence as well as the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine. MEPs also inquire about other regional and global security threats that require close cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

Exchange of views with Mark RUTTE, Secretary General of the NATO: Opening statements by David McALLISTER, AFET Chair, Marie-Agnes STRACK-ZIMMERMANN, SEDE Chair, Mark RUTTE, NATO Secretary General, and by Salvatore DE MEO, DNAT Chair

The EP Committee on Foreign Affairs exchange views with Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the situation in Syria following the fall of the Assad dictatorship.

The situation in Syria following the fall of the Assad dictatorship: exchange of views with Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - AFET Committee

&lt;p>From 4th to 12th November 2024, the European Parliament held the Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, in Brussels. For 3 hours, MEPs quizzed the candidates for the College of Commissioners on their priorities ahead of the new mandate given by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This clip highlights the best pictures from the 26 confirmation hearings.&lt;/p>

Highlights of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate (2024)

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy speaks to the press after she was heard by Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) which participated as joint committees.

Press point by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), and Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. At the end of the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN makes a closing statement followed by the one from the Committee chair.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN and Committee chair

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 5)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 4)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 3)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 2)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 1)

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN makes an opening statement and then answers questions by committee members. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: opening statement

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. Ambiance of the arrivals and opening statements by Committees Chairs

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: arrivals and opening statements by Committees Chairs

Ambience shots of the Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: atmosphere shots

David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE), AFET Committee Chair, speaks to the press, after Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission, was heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check agaisnt delivery.

Press point by David MCALLISTER, Chair of Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament. Committee on Development (DEVE), Committee on International Trade (INTA), Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) participate as joint committees. At the end of the confirmation hearing, Kaja KALLAS makes a closing statement followed by the one from the Committee Chair. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check agaisnt delivery.

Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission: closing statements by Commissioner-designate and David McALLISTER (EPP,DE), AFET Committee Ch

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