European External Action Service

The latest version of the European treaties, the Lisbon Treaty, provided for the creation of a European External Action Service (EEAS), equivalent to a foreign ministry of the European Union. The aim of the EEAS is to boost the coherence of EU foreign policy. The European Parliament can influence the EEAS by recommending policies and deciding on its budget in the general budget negotiations. The 2009 report on the institutional aspects of setting up the EEAS set out Parliament's position on the service, which is currently headed by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.

 

What was the Greens' position?

The Greens believe that the EEAS should give adequate priority and allocate sufficient institutional resources to conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict management. We therefore called for the creation of a separate directorate-general to deal with these issues. We also believe that merit-based and gender-balanced selection procedures, combined with provisions for a high degree of mobility, are good ways of ensuring that the EEAS functions transparently and efficiently.

 

Did other MEPs accept the Greens' position?

The Greens managed to achieve a consensus in Parliament on the aforementioned selection procedures and provisions, ensuring that no informal structures develop within the EEAS. This was one of the rare dossiers where Parliament's opinion ended up having a legally binding effect.

 

Which points did the Greens lose?

However, the Greens proved unable to convince the other groups of the need for a separate directorate-general for conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict management, so the idea was rejected.