MEPs demand an assertive foreign policy that defends the EU’s interests

To remain relevant on the international stage, the EU cannot afford to turn inwards and must remain open and engaged, Committee on Foreign Affairs MEPs warn.

EU enlargement is a geostrategic investment

Swifter EU responses to international crises are possible without a Treaty change

Need for clarity on who represents the EU externally

From Ukraine to the Caucasus, from the Middle East to the Sahel, the Arctic and beyond, an arc of instability has formed around Europe which exemplifies the radical uncertainty in which the EU is operating, MEPs warn in a report on EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP) adopted on Tuesday. Competition and protectionism are replacing cooperation and free trade, and investment, information and migration flows are increasingly being instrumentalised. The EU cannot afford to turn inwards and must remain open and engaged, according to the report, which was adopted by by 42 votes ans 14 against. .

EU enlargement is a geostrategic investment

While supporting a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, MEPs warn that any settlement imposed by Russia or that rewards its aggression would undermine European security. They urge member states to continue supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, in particular air defence systems and deep strike capabilities. Russia’s aggression is destabilising the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood severely, triggering spillover effects in the Western Balkans that threaten to slow down reforms and fuel anti-European narratives, according to MEPs, who point to EU enlargement as a geostrategic investment in regional security and stability.

Support for multilateralism and the need for faster decision making in CFSP

Warning that ‘mini-lateral’ formats risk increasingly fragmenting global norms, MEPs highlight the key role of multilateral organisations, in particular the United Nations (UN), for conflict resolution and global governance. They also call for comprehensive reforms that would strengthen the UN’s role, its efficiency, and democratic representation.

The report also refers to the EU requirement for unanimity decisions in areas of the CFSP. MEPs want member states to make greater and more transparent use of constructive abstention in line with Article 31(1) TEU in cases where they cannot endorse a decision but do not wish to block EU collective action. This approach, MEPs say, strengthens the EU’s ability to respond swiftly and coherently to international crises, while respecting national sovereignty. It also shows that greater effectiveness in CFSP is already possible without a Treaty change.

EU’s visibility is not in balance with its global economic and financial footprint

MEPs note that the EU’s global visibility and political influence often fall short of its economic, financial and diplomatic footprint. This lack of visibility is at times a product of a lack of clarity in the external representation of the EU, say MEPs, stressing the need to clearly define the competences of the Vice President/High Representative, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council with regard to the EU’s external action .

In his statement, issued after the report was adopted, the rapporteur David McAllister (EPP, Germany) said: “The EU’s broader strategic task lies in strengthening our global partnerships, enhancing our ability to deter threats, and ensuring that enlargement, neighbourhood policy and cooperation with like-minded democracies serve our long-term security. At the same time, the EU must increase its visibility, sharpen its external representation and ensure that its instruments – from sanctions to strategic communication and the Global Gateway – are used effectively and consistently.”

Parliament will vote in plenary on the report on the EU’s common foreign and security policy in January 2026.