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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2117(INI))

On the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023

AFET-PR-752694

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: David McAllister

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This is a draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy in 2023. It sets out four guiding principles for EU foreign policy and makes recommendations on Russia's war against Ukraine, EU decision-making, multilateralism and strategic partnerships. It condemns Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, demands the withdrawal of Russian troops, and calls for further sanctions, a special tribunal and the use of immobilised Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction. It calls for the Council to move gradually to qualified majority voting for foreign policy decisions without military or defence implications, and for stronger parliamentary oversight and sufficient CFSP funding. It urges the EU to reinforce rules-based multilateralism, use the Global Gateway, and build strategic partnerships with like-minded countries, including in the Indo-Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Gulf.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a draft resolution setting out four principles for the CFSP and making recommendations on Ukraine, EU decision-making, multilateralism and strategic partnerships. The committee has not yet amended or voted on it.

Key points

  1. The EU's external action should be guided by the values in Articles 2, 3(5) and 21 TEU and by four principles: addressing the consequences of Russia's war, adapting EU structures, reinforcing multilateralism and asserting interests through partnerships.
  2. Parliament condemns Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and demands that Russia cease all military action and withdraw its troops from Ukraine and other occupied territories.
  3. It calls for further isolation of Russia through restrictive measures, also against Belarus, proactive diplomacy to prevent sanctions circumvention, support for Ukraine's peace formula, a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression, and a proposal to use immobilised Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction.
  4. Member States should provide Ukraine with further political, humanitarian, military, infrastructure, economic and financial support for as long as it takes, and the EU should improve its capacity to act in global crises.
  5. The Council should gradually switch to qualified majority voting for CFSP decisions without military or defence implications, and Parliament should have stronger oversight, including access to confidential information.
  6. Member States should dedicate sufficient funding to the CFSP, and the 'Team Europe' approach should be fully used with Parliament treated as part of it.
  7. The EU should treat the UN and its agencies as its format of cooperation of choice, reinforce inclusive multilateral governance, and step up cooperation with multilateral organisations.
  8. The Commission should use the Global Gateway to increase the EU's presence worldwide through infrastructure investment that creates national value in partner countries, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
  9. The EU should strengthen partnerships with like-minded countries and the Global South, foster transatlantic cooperation with the United States and Canada, and engage more with the UK on foreign affairs and security.
  10. On enlargement, Parliament calls for genuine commitment to accession talks with Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, welcomes candidate status for Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and urges a roadmap for Ukraine and Moldova to start negotiations before the end of the year.
  11. Türkiye's accession process cannot resume without a drastic change of course, and the EU should seek a closer strategic partnership with Türkiye; the EU should also strengthen its southern neighbourhood, engage with the Gulf, and support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
  12. The EU should scale up its presence in Central Asia, deepen ties in the Indo-Pacific with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, manage relations with China by de-risking, and strengthen cooperation with ASEAN, Africa, Latin America and the Arctic.

Who is affected

  • EU member states, which are urged to fund the CFSP, provide support to Ukraine and consider qualified majority voting.
  • The Commission, the Vice-President/High Representative and the EEAS, which are asked to act on sanctions, enlargement, partnerships and the Global Gateway.
  • Ukraine, which is promised continued political, humanitarian, military, economic and financial support.
  • Candidate and partner countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Türkiye, Tunisia, and countries in the Western Balkans, the Indo-Pacific, Latin America and Africa.
  • Russia and Belarus, which face calls for further isolation and sanctions.

Figures and deadlines

  • 15 June 2023: date of the VP/HR report 'CFSP Report – Our priorities in 2023'.
  • 24 March 2022: date the European Council endorsed the Strategic Compass.
  • 29 and 30 June 2023: dates of the European Council conclusions.
  • 20 June 2023: date of the Commission proposal for the Ukraine Facility.
  • 1 December 2021: date of the joint communication on the Global Gateway.
  • 7 June 2023: date of the joint communication on a New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • 23 February 2023: date of the UN General Assembly resolution on principles of the UN Charter for peace in Ukraine.
  • 1967 borders: basis for a negotiated two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

Legal basis: Articles 21 and 36 of the Treaty on European Union.