DSAS - European Parliament

General documents - 8th EU-Bangladesh Interparliamentary Meeting, Brussels, 8 December 2022 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 11:25:13 GMT

The 8th Inter-parliamentary meeting between the European Parliament and the Parliament of Bangladesh took place on 7-8 December 2022 in Brussels. Parliamentarians from both sides examined the latest developments in the state of relations between the European Union and Bangladesh, including human rights, trade, and the current geo-strategic situation.

Meeting documents
Official photos
Minutes

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - 13th Interparliamentary Meeting EP-Pakistan, Brussels, 31 March 2022 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 11:23:26 GMT

The 13th inter-parliamentary meeting between the European Parliament and the National Assembly of Pakistan took place on 31 March 2022 in Brussels. Discussions focused on the political developments in Pakistan, on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, on trade and GSP+ and on human rights. The previous IPM took place in Islamabad in November 2021.

Agenda
Minutes

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - 10th EU-Sri Lanka Interparliamentary Meeting, Brussels remotely, 17 November 2022 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 11:21:55 GMT

The 10th EU-Sri Lanka Inter-parliamentary meeting took place online on 17th November 2022. The EP delegation was led by its Chairman, Mr Nicola Procaccini (ECR, Italy) and the Sri Lankan delegation was led by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ali Sabry. Both sides had the opportunity to examine the state of affairs in relations between the EU and Sri Lanka, including the challenging economic situation in Sri Lanka, human rights, bilateral trade and the overall geo-strategic situation. The impact of the Russian aggression in Ukraine on both sides was also discussed.

Agenda
Minutes

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

General documents - 10th EU-Nepal Inter-parliamentary meeting, Kathmandu - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:51:41 GMT

this report also covers the 7th EU-Bhutan Inter-parliamentary meeting, Thimphu

Mission report of the 7th EU-Bhutan and the 10th EU-Nepal Inter-parliamentary meeting

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - 7th EU-Bhutan Inter-parliamentary meeting, Thimphu - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:50:32 GMT

this report also covers the 10th EU-Nepal Inter-parliamentary meeting, Kathmandu

Mission report of the 7th EU-Bhutan and the 10th EU-Nepal Inter-parliamentary meeting

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - 2022 meetings calendar - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 14:54:55 GMT

2022-03-31 IPM EU-Pakistan, Brussels
2022-04-21 Ordinary meeting, Interactio, Brussels
2022-07-11 Ordinary meeting, Brussels
2022-09-08 Ordinary meeting, Brussels
2022-09-19 IPM EU-Bhutan and Nepal, Thimphu and Kathmandu
2022-11-17 IPM EU-Sri Lanka, Brussels
2022-12-08 IPM EU-Bangladesh, Brussels

no further confirmed meetings

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - 2021 and 2020 meetings calendar - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:19:30 GMT

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of the European Parliament and its political leaders have modified Parliament's calendar of activities. The aim is to enable Parliament to exercise its functions and carry out its parliamentary work, while complying with the duty of care for its Members and staff and protecting public health.

While missions of Parliament's delegations are currently suspended, interparliamentary and other meetings of standing delegations and parliamentary assemblies are being organised with the possibility of remote participation by Members, visiting speakers and staff.

The calendar section of this page is updated when possible and provides more details of upcoming meetings.

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Meeting of 8 September 2022, Brussels - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 15:51:30 GMT

The meeting was chaired by Vice Chair Milan Zver. It was dedicated to the exchange of views on Bhutan and Nepal ahead of the respective delegation visit to these countries foreseen for 19 to 23 September 2022.

Meeting documents

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Meeting of 11 July 2022, Brussels - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 18:25:53 GMT

The meeting on 11 July was dedicated to assessing the state of EU relations with Bangladesh and the Maldives. The respective Ambassadors and representatives of the EEAS updated MEPs. In view of latest developments, the situation in Sri Lanka was also discussed.

Meeting documents
Minutes

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Statement of 11 July 2022 on the situation in Sri Lanka - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 08:50:39 GMT

I am following developments in Sri Lanka with great attention. The protests that have led to the resignation of President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe are an unequivocal sign of a widespread and profound social malaise, the result of wrong political choices, especially in the economic area. I learned with relief of Rajapaksa's decision to step down on the 13th July and the announcement, made by the leaders of the political parties present in the Parliament, of their intention to form a government of national unity. I believe that the priority is to secure a peaceful transition and the EU must support Sri Lanka in order to avoid episodes of violence and to restore the correct functioning of Democratic institutions. Sri Lanka is suffering its worst financial crisis in decades. Covid lockdowns and a 2019 terrorist bombing affected tourism significantly, but further decisions, such as the ban on the use of chemical fertilizers, have had a very negative impact that have caused the collapse of agricultural production and aggravated the economic crisis. The EU must be more present in the Indo-Pacific region offering cooperation and development models alternative to those of China, which have contributed to aggravating the economic crisis.

DSAS Chair statement of 11 July 2022

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Meeting of 21 April 2022, semi-remotely via Interactio - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:28:30 GMT

The meeting focused mainly on the latest developments in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Meeting documents

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

General documents - Remote meeting of 12 October 2020 (via Spinelli 5G2) - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:56:40 GMT

The Delegation proceeded to the election of the Chair of the delegation, the election of the First Vice-Chair of the delegation and discussed on the working programme for the coming months

Draft agenda

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - Meeting of 23 January 2020, Brussels - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:52:13 GMT

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - Meeting of 23 October 2019, Strasbourg - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:51:59 GMT

The first regular meeting of the Delegation for Relations with South Asia in this new parliamentary terms took place on 23 October 2019. The Ambassadors of Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Deputy Head of Mission of Bangladesh updated MEPs on latest developments in relations between the EU and their respective countries. Representatives of the External Action Service linked in via video-conference.

Draft agenda 23.10.19

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - EU statements - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 15:00:54 GMT

EU-Pakistan: Sixth Round of the European Union-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, 7 December 2021
European Union-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue 5th Round: Joint Press Release, 4 November 2020
Pakistan and the European Union held their 6th Political Dialogue, 7 October 2020
Joint Press Release: 10th Session of EU-Pakistan Joint Commission, 15 November 2019
Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, 27 February 2019
Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on Asia Bibi, 29 January 2019
Statement by the Spokesperson on the elections in Pakistan, 27 July 2018
Pakistan: Council adopts conclusions, 19 November 2018

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - Constitutive meeting of 26 September 2019, Brussels - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:58:32 GMT

At its constitutive meeting on 26th September 2019, the delegation elected Baroness Nosheena Mobarik (ECR, UK) as Chair, Mr John Howarth (S&D, UK) as 1st Vice-Chair and Mr Milan Zver (EPP, SL) as 2nd Vice-Chair.

Minutes of the constitutive meeting of 26 September 2019, Brussels (EN)

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - The situation in Nepal following the earthquakes, 11 June 2015 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:51:15 GMT

The European Parliament adopted by 602 votes to 11, with 22 abstentions a resolution on the situation in Nepal following the earthquake of 25 April 2015 and the subsequent earthquake of 12 May.

The resolution was tabled by the EFDD, ECR, GUE/NGL, EPP, Greens/EFA, ALDE, and S&D groups.

Parliament expressed its deepest condolences to all those affected, including the families of the more than 8 800 people who lost their lives in Nepal, India, China and Bangladesh. It applauded the efforts of the Nepalese and welcomed the swift aid provided by the Commission and the Member States to Nepal.

International aid: the EU and its Member States had provided significant financial assistance, with the immediate release of EUR 6 million for urgent needs and a total outlay to date of EUR 22.6 million on the part of the Commission, in addition to offering relief items and search and rescue teams through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. [...]

Resolution of 11 June 2015 (EN)

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - Ban of the elections for the Tibetan government in exile in Nepal, 7 April 2011 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:50:56 GMT

The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the ban of the elections for the Tibetan government in exile in Nepal.

The resolution was tabled by the ALDE, ECR, EPP, Greens/ALE, and S&D groups and Fiorello Provera (EFD).

Parliament calls on the Government of Nepal to uphold the democratic rights of the Tibetan people, who are conducting a unique internal election process which has existed since 1960, to organise and to participate in democratic elections. [...]

Parliament calls on the European External Action Service through its delegation in Kathmandu to monitor closely the political situation in Nepal, especially the treatment of the Tibetan refugees and respect for their constitutionally and internationally enshrined rights. [...]

Resolution of 7 April 2011 (EN)

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - The situation in Sri Lanka, in particular the arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 10 June 2021 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:50:26 GMT

European Parliament resolution of 10 June 2021 (EN)

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

General documents - The situation in Sri Lanka, 12 December 2013 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:50:05 GMT

The European Parliament adopted by 44 votes to 4 with 4 abstentions a resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, and ECR groups.

Parliament expressed its appreciation for the restoration of peace in Sri Lanka, when the decades-long conflict between the Sri Lankan Government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north of the country came to an end in in May 2009. [...]

However, Parliament was concerned about the presence of government military forces in the former conflict areas, leading to human rights violations including land grabbing, with more than one thousand court cases pending that involve landowners who have lost their property, and worrying numbers of reported sexual assaults of women. [...]

Resolution of 12 December 2013 (EN)

General documents - The situation in Sri Lanka, 12 May 2011 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:49:45 GMT

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in Sri Lanka.

The resolution was tabled by the GUE/NGL, ECR, S&D, EPP, ALDE, and Greens/EFA groups.

The resolution notes that the panel has recommended that the UN Secretary General should immediately proceed to establish an independent international mechanism, but that the latter has been advised that this will require host country consent or a decision by member states through an appropriate intergovernmental forum. [...]

Parliament urges the Sri Lankan Government to implement the panel's recommendations, starting with the 'immediate measures', and immediately to commence genuine investigations into the violations of international humanitarian and human rights law allegedly committed by both sides involved in the armed conflict. [...]

Resolution of 12 May 2011 (EN)

General documents - The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, 12 March 2009 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:49:28 GMT

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. It notes that an estimated 170 000 civilians find themselves in an emergency situation, trapped in the battle zone between the Sri Lankan army and the forces of the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) without access to the most basic aid. UN agencies have documented more than 2300 civilian deaths and at least 6500 injuries since late January 2009.

Parliament calls for an immediate ceasefire by the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE in order to allow the civilian population to leave the combat zone. It condemns all acts of violence and intimidation which are preventing civilians from leaving the conflict area, and condemns the attacks on civilians as documented by the International Crisis Group.[...]

Lastly, Parliament calls on the Sri Lankan Government to cooperate with countries and aid organisations that are willing and able to evacuate civilians.

Resolution of 12 March 2009 (EN)

General documents - Blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel, 29 April 2021 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:49:00 GMT

The European Parliament adopted by 681 votes to 3, with 6 abstentions, a resolution on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, in particular the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR and The Left, groups.

Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws have been in place in their present form since 1986, punishing blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad with death or life imprisonment. Despite never having led to official executions, the law incites harassment, violence and murder against those being accused.

[...]

European Parliament resolution of 29 April 2021

General documents - Pakistan, notably the situation of human rights defenders and the death penalty, 15 June 2017 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:48:50 GMT

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Pakistan, notably the situation of human rights defenders and the death penalty.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups.

Parliament expressed deep concern at the reports of the use of the death penalty in Pakistan following flawed trials, the execution of minors and persons with mental disorders, and allegations of torture. Pakistan now has one of the largest death row populations in the world.

Reiterating the EU's strong opposition to the death penalty, Members called on Pakistan to reinstate the moratorium, with the longer-term objective of full abolition of the death penalty.

Parliament is deeply concerned at the continued use of the 'blasphemy law', which carries a mandatory death sentence. It called on the Pakistani Government to put in place effective procedural and institutional safeguards to prevent the misuse of 'blasphemy' charges.

Resolution of 15 June 2017 (EN)

General documents - Pakistan, in particular the attack in Lahore, 14 April 2016 - Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:48:37 GMT

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Pakistan, in particular the attack in Lahore.

The resolution was tabled by the EFDD, EPP, S&D, ALDE, ECR and Greens/EFA groups.

It condemned the suicide bombing at a Lahore playground, on 27 March 2016 which killed 73 people, injuring more than 300, including many women and children. [...]

Blasphemy laws: Parliament was concerned at the continued use of blasphemy laws in Pakistan and believed that this is heightening the climate of religious intolerance. [...]

Reform: Members welcomed the government's reform initiatives such as the bill to criminalise child marriage, and the act to protect women from violence and harassment, the unblocking of YouTube, the decision declaring Holi, Diwali and Easter as holidays for religious minorities. [...]

Resolution of 14 April 2016 (EN)