Defining the role of the EU's Diplomatic Service

The sole objective of the European External Action Service (EEAS) is to assist the HR in this task. (Art 27.3 TEU )In her role as representative of the EU’s foreign policy and security interests, the HR is fulfilling an intergovernmental mandate. The same is the case for the EEAS, being set up to support this part of her mission.

The provisions of the Lisbon Treaty to increase the effectiveness of the EU’s role in the world is an important innovation in the evolution of the Union. However, for the outcome to deliver what was intended the institutional changes that are put in place must be firmly rooted on the spirit and letter of the Treaty. Many of the current proposals being put forward involve combining the management of aspects of the different policies across the institutional structures. This will lead to a mixing of policies that the Treaty clearly defines as being within the intergovernmental framework with others which are within the remit of the European Commission. The inherent danger is that this will weaken the position of the Parliament at a time when there is already concern over the effectiveness of the democratic scrutiny on EU programming towards developing countries. It would also weaken the role of the Commission in fulfilling its mandate reflecting a full range of competences of the Union. Finally, it could also lead to an undermining of national scrutiny of the intergovernmental decision-making process.

See briefing paper on what the Lisbon Treaty says about the role of the EEAS