The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs has adopted its 2024 report on the implementation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), with a strong focus on enlargement, strategic autonomy, and the bloc’s global response to emerging security threats, particularly in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.
Drafted by David McAllister (EPP, Germany), the report serves as a policy compass for the next European Commission and High Representative. It stresses the need for a more assertive and cohesive EU foreign policy amid rising geopolitical instability, and it highlights four strategic trends: the return of power politics, weaponisation of interdependence, fragmentation of global governance, and the rise of authoritarianism.
Western Balkans Integration Praised
The report welcomes the “constructive role of vibrant civil societies” in the EU’s enlargement countries and lauds recent progress in the Western Balkans. Notably, it acknowledges Albania’s completion of the screening process and the opening of its first cluster of negotiating chapters, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s green light for accession talks, and progress in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, especially on freedom of movement and energy.
North Macedonia’s completed screening process and Montenegro’s progress in Chapters 23 and 24 are also recognised, alongside Kosovo’s EU membership application and Serbia’s ongoing engagement with the EU, despite continued concerns about democratic backsliding.
Russia’s War in Ukraine Shapes 2025 Priorities
Looking ahead to 2025, the CFSP will prioritise the global fallout from Russia’s war against Ukraine. The report warns that Moscow’s aggression is destabilising both the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans, and it calls for greater EU support to democratic institutions in those regions.
Lawmakers urged the Council to sanction countries supplying military goods to Russia, condemned Moscow’s use of North Korean troops, and warned of sabotage risks to critical maritime infrastructure. The report also highlights the need for tighter controls over Russia’s “shadow fleet” circumventing sanctions.
Middle East, China and Hybrid Threats
The Parliament affirmed Israel’s right to self-defence under international law but condemned disproportionate actions by Israeli forces in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. It called for a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and renewed commitment to a two-state solution. Iran’s destabilising role and China’s cyber operations and foreign information manipulation also featured prominently.
Call for Faster Decision-Making and More Resources
The report supports a gradual shift to qualified majority voting in CFSP areas without military implications, aiming to boost EU coherence in foreign affairs. It also calls for a doubling of the budget for the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and enhanced funding for mediation, dialogue, and reconciliation.
Members criticised the structural underfunding of the European External Action Service (EEAS), warning that it undermines the EU’s strategic communication and diplomatic reach. They also called for reinforced EU delegations and more financial and human resources to tackle global crises.
Parliamentary Oversight and Budgetary Control
Parliament reiterated its role in overseeing CFSP and CSDP expenditures, insisting on greater transparency and consultation. It urged the Commission to propose a detailed external action budget in the next Multiannual Financial Framework by mid-2025, including support for democracy, human rights, and green and digital diplomacy.
The report highlights the need for improved parliamentary access to confidential briefings and calls for all non-military CFSP and CSDP expenditures to be charged to the EU budget.
