European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Middle East
Citizens’ enquiries on the situation of the Kurdish population in north east Syria – Rojava
The President of the European Parliament has recently received a large number of messages on the situation of the Kurdish population in north east Syria, following a Turkish military operation in this region in October 2019. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, February 2020
Highlights of the February session included debates on a review of economic governance; the revised enlargement methodology proposed by the Commission; a breach of Council Decision 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela; the current situation in Syria; on fighting against antisemitism, racism and hatred across Europe; as well as on the ongoing threat to the rule of law in Poland. Continue reading
US ‘Peace Plan’ for the Middle East
On 28 January 2020, United States President Donald Trump released his administration’s ‘vision for Israeli-Palestinian peace’. The White House Plan, coupled with earlier Trump administration moves, marks a distinct departure from past US policy on the Middle East Peace Process. Continue reading
Escalating US-Iran conflict: The EU’s priorities
On 3 January 2020, a United States (US) strike outside Baghdad killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the leader of the al-Qods force within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC), and arguably the second most important man in Iran after Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, November II 2019
The November II plenary session highlights included the vote on the new European Commission, agreement on the 2020 budget, and Parliament’s declaration of a climate emergency. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, April II 2019
Highlights of the April II plenary session (the last of the current legislature) included debates on the conclusions of the April 2019 European Council meeting on the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, and the final debate in the series on the future of Europe with the Prime Minister of Latvia, Kisjanis Karins. Important debates also took place on the rule of law in Romania; failure to adopt an EU digital services tax; protecting the European elections against international cybersecurity threats; and on the possible extradition of Julian Assange. Continue reading
The EU and Middle East and North Africa [What Think Tanks are thinking]
The European Union held its first ever summit with the Arab League in February, highlighting the growing importance of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in tackling problems such as security, terrorism, migration and energy supply. Continue reading
The migration challenge [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Next week, European Union Heads of State or Government will discuss the politically charged issue of reforming the EU’s migration and asylum policies. Divisions among EU members over how to handle migrants were exposed again earlier this month when Italy’s new government tightened its migration policy, while the German ruling coalition faced a potentially destabilising rift over the issue. Continue reading
Migration [What Think Tanks are thinking]
The European Union’s southern borders remain under pressure from irregular migrants escaping poverty and war in the Middle East and Africa. The 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey significantly slowed the influx to Europe through Greece of people escaping the war in Syria. Continue reading
US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel
On 6 December 2017, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, mirroring the official Israeli position on the status of the city. Continue reading
The EU, Middle East and North Africa [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) pose a growing challenge for the European Union. Many countries of the region face war, political turmoil and popular anger, due to the impact of poverty in generating instability, migration and in some cases terrorism. Continue reading
Iraq: towards an independent Kurdistan?
Written by Eric Pichon, [last update December 2016] Consult also our Briefing: Regional implications of Iraqi Kurdistan’s quest for independence (6 December 2016) On 3 July 2014, the President of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq asked the regional parliament to prepare a referendum on independence. The KRG is in a strong position to … Continue reading
EUI/EP Policy roundtable discussion on transformations in the Middle East and North Africa – the EU’s response
Written by Beatrix Immenkamp On 14 June, the European Parliament library hosted a round-table discussion on transformations in the Middle East and North Africa, chaired by MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries (DMAG) and the Arab Maghreb Union, and … Continue reading
EP’s last plenary session: heating up for the summer
Written by Tessa Tumbrägel Parliament is gearing up for the last plenary session before the summer recess, taking place in Strasbourg from 6-9 July. Items on the agenda include circular economy and green jobs, TTIP, the EU Emissions Trading System, copyright harmonisation, the 2016 budget and external affairs. MEPs will also have the opportunity to quiz … Continue reading
Arabie saoudite : les enjeux de la succession
par Eric Pichon et Michele Bigoni [mis à jour le 3/02/2015] Le royaume d’Arabie saoudite n’a connu jusqu’alors que deux générations de souverains. Depuis 1953, six fils d’ Abdulaziz Ibn Saoud (le fondateur de l’Arabie saoudite moderne en 1932) se sont succédés sur le trône : Salmane ben Abdelaziz Al-Saoud, le successeur d’Abdallah (décédé le … Continue reading
The situation of minorities in Iraq
Written by Eric Pichon, Iraqi minorities (Turkmens, Yazidis, Christians and other smaller communities) have long been discriminated against in Iraq. Violence against them has increased dramatically in areas of Iraqi territory that have fallen under the control of the Islamist terrorist group that has declared itself ‘the Islamic State’ (known variously as IS, ISIS or … Continue reading
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood experience: International response and regional implications
Accused of taking an authoritarian turn and being unable to sort Egypt’s economic problems, Mohammed Morsi, the democratically elected Egyptian president was ousted earlier this year. The ensuing crackdown on his party, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), has pushed the organisation to return to the underground organisation with which it had worked for decades. The implications … Continue reading
Dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons programme: an early look at the prospects and obstacles
Under the supervision of international experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Syrian personnel began the process of dismantling the country’s chemical weapons (CW) program on Sunday 6 October 2013. However, analysts caution that serious obstacles lie ahead, and many remain sceptical at the prospects for a successful dismantling of the … Continue reading
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