Committees · Foreign Affairs

AFET

3 ESN seats

Foreign Affairs.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs coordinates Parliament’s work on the European Union’s foreign policy and external action.

ESN seats

Members total

Subcommittees

2024–29

10th term

Mandate & Tasks

What This Committee Handles.

It works closely with the European External Action Service, the Commission, the diplomatic services of the Member States, third countries and international organisations. AFET shapes Parliament’s positions on relations with strategic partners, enlargement, external financing, security challenges and the Union’s role in international affairs.

Key facts · AFET

Full name

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Size

79 members

ESN seats

3 of 79

Subcommittees

DROI

Meeting cycle

Legal basis

Annex VI of the EP Rules of Procedure

ESN in AFET

A pragmatic, interest-based and sovereignty-respecting approach to foreign affairs.

— ESN Committee Booklet · Committee on Foreign Affairs

Remit

Four Policy Areas of the Committee.

ESN Position

Our Line in the Committee.

The Group’s priorities in this committee, as set out in the ESN Committee Booklet.

Balanced and Pragmatic Relations

ESN promotes balanced and pragmatic relations with strategic partners, based on mutual interest, non-interference and respect for the foreign-policy competences of the Member States.

A Constructive Voice

ESN seeks to act as a constructive voice on enlargement, migration, trade, investment, connectivity and strategic autonomy.

Objective Assessment of Partners and Crises

Its members emphasise objective assessment of international partners and crises and oppose one-sided or ideologically driven foreign-policy positions.

ESN Members in AFET

Three Seats, Two Delegations.

The three ESN seats in AFET are held by Members from two delegations. The named assignment is updated at the start of each session period.

Full member · Coordinator

Stanislav STOYANOV

Revival Възраждане

Full member

Petr BYSTRON

Alternative for Germany

Full member

Alexander SELL

Alternative for Germany

As of 2026 · Full list with named assignments available on request from the secretariat

Track record

Key Achievements.

Under the coordination of Stanislav Stoyanov, ESN has established an active and visible presence in AFET, particularly on enlargement, the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. On several files, including the report on Albania, ESN amendments attracted support beyond the usual political divisions. ESN members also contributed to work on agreements with Mexico and Mercosur, transnational repression and the Global Gateway. Despite its limited numerical strength, ESN secured shadow responsibility on approximately 90 per cent of dossiers, tabled amendments on most files and cooperated with other groups where common ground existed.

ESN in action

Promoted pragmatic, interest-based relations with international partners.

Shaped work on enlargement and international partnership agreements.

Secured shadow responsibility across most AFET dossiers.

Outlook

Looking Ahead.

In the coming months, ESN will continue to promote a pragmatic, interest-based and sovereignty-respecting approach to foreign affairs. Priority will be given to enlargement, migration cooperation, trade and investment, relations with strategic partners, political stability and the development of resilient value chains. ESN will also scrutinise external spending under the next Multiannual Financial Framework and advocate policies that strengthen the economic and industrial autonomy of the Member States.

Documents

From the Parliament.

Studies, briefings and meeting documents of this committee, published by the European Parliament.

Draft Report · 2026

A European Parliament recommendation to the Council, Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for a review of the EU’s Black Sea Strategy

Draft Opinion · 2026

EU Gender Action Plan IV – priorities for gender equality and women’s rights in external action

Draft Report · 2026

Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2026

Draft Report · 2026

Opinion · 2026

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027 – all sections

Draft Report · 2026

Situation of international law and the risks to multilateralism, democracy and the European Union

Draft Opinion · 2026

General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027 – all sections

Draft Report · 2026

Shaping the EU's external action to address the human rights challenges posed by artificial intelligence

Related committees

Also of Interest.

Three closely related committees in which the ESN Group is represented.

INTA

International Trade

The Committee on International Trade is Parliament's lead committee for the European Union's common commercial policy.

DEVE

Development

The Committee on Development is responsible for EU development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

DROI

Human Rights

The Subcommittee on Human Rights monitors the human-rights dimension of the European Union's external action and international relations.