The Treaty of Lisbon significantly alters the way in which the European Union (EU) defines and carries out its foreign policy. Alongside the collapse of the old EU ‘pillars’, and the merger of the posts of External Relations Commissioner and of the High Representative for CFSP, the new Treaty foresees the establishment of a European External Action Service (EEAS). Comprising Council and Commission officials, as well as Member States’ diplomats, and operating under the authority of the rebranded High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR), the Service aims notably at enhancing the coherence of the Union´s external action, hitherto served by the European Community, the EU and its Member States.
In accordance with the procedure provided for in the Lisbon Treaty, the new HR, Mrs. Catherine Ashton, submitted to the Council a draft decision on the organisation and functioning of the EEAS. Having obtained the political agreement of the Member States, the proposal has since been discussed with the European Parliament, whose opinion, like the Commission’s consent, is required for the Council to take the final decision. The outcome of the current negotiations will determine the extent to which the Member States and the EU institutions are able to turn the opportunity provided by the new Treaty into a vehicle for strengthening the EU external action.
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