Less than one year after adopting the Paris climate agreement, world leaders and negotiators are meeting for talks in Marrakesh. The COP22 conference on 7-18 November focuses on ways of implementing the first universally binding global deal on climate change, a matter of huge urgency for the planet. Parliament is represented at the talks by a delegation of 12 MEPs led by Italian EPP member Giovanni La Via.

On 15 November in Brussels, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Raimondas Karoblis attended the EU’s General Affairs Council, which discussed issues related to the mid-term review of the EU’s multi-annual financial framework, preparations for the European Council on 15 and 16 December, and the Commission’s work programme for 2017.

On 14 November in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Raimundas Karoblis attended the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council, which discussed issues related to Turkey, the Eastern Partnership and the Southern Neighbourhood. A joint session of Foreign Affairs Ministers and Defence Ministers focused on the implementation plan on security and defence under the EU global strategy.

The second plenary meeting of the dialogue between the Government and the opposition of Venezuela under the facilitation of the Holy See and the UNASUR representatives in Caracas, has produced further results.

The European Commission will provide €78 million in emergency aid to help those affected by the South Sudan crisis both within the country and in the region. Over 1 million refugees from South Sudan have fled to neighbouring countries, with the number expected to grow.

A twelve-strong delegation of MEPs will take part in UN (COP22) climate talks (COP22) in Marrakesh from Monday to Friday. Following the European Parliament’s ratification and the entry into force of the 2015 Paris agreement, these will focus on how to finance and share the efforts needed to keep climate warming well below 2 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels.

On 11 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius congratulated the Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski and all the people of Poland on the Independence Day.

The EU and Iran have held the second meeting of the High Level political dialogue in Brussels on 9 November.

Republican Donald Trump won the presidential election ofthe United States of America. According to the media reports, Trump has gained the required number of votes and will be the 45th president of the United States.

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini met with the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.