The outline of the EU diplomatic service approved by the 27. Details

(BRUSSELS2) Finally the discussions on the European External Action Service (EEAS abbreviated English) will have been quite fast (cf. first sights). The 27 Foreign Ministers thus agreed on the report of the presidency intended for the contours of the future diplomatic service of the EU. This ten-page report is worth reading, and re-reading. Because we must not hide: it is indeed a new structure "sui generis" which is born (the word "institution" would probably be too strong). And, since the European Central Bank, the EU had not created a new structure.

His role : to assist the "High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy" in the execution of his mandate, but also to assist the (new) President of the European Council and the members of the Commission in their respective functions. The Service will be organized by geographic "desk" as well as horizontal departments (defense, human rights, etc.). The diplomatic service will also cover the EU candidate countries but enlargement will remain the responsibility of the Commission (under the direction of the Commissioner responsible for enlargement). Similarly, Trade and Development policy will remain under the jurisdiction of the respective Commissioners and DGs.

A "sui generis" organization. The Diplomatic Service is a "sui generis" service separate by nature from the Council and Commission Secretariat. It must have autonomy in terms of the administrative budget and the management of its personnel. Its organizational status should reflect and support its unique role and functions in the EU system. The High Representative will therefore propose the budget for the service in a separate section of the EU budget (under heading V). The usual budget rules will apply.

Crisis management, integrated, with its specificities. This is the important point for the ESDP. This will not be split as we feared. Thus the (new) Crisis Planning and Management Directorate (CMPD), the Civilian Leadership and Planning Capability (CCPC/CPCC or Civil Crisis Staff) as well as the Military Staff (EUMS) will be gone. stakeholders of the new service, taking into account their specificities. The same will apply to the information center (SitCen) of the EU, with specific details to enable it to provide its services to the other institutions (European Council, etc.). On the other hand, it is not known whether the EU Satellite Center in Torrejon, the Institute for Security Studies in Paris and the European Defense College will be attached to it. It would be logical. But it is not formally recorded.

A budget largely co-managed with the Commission. The High Representative will have access to the CFSP budget and the Instrument for Stability – which will continue to be managed by common agreement between the Council and the Commission. The division of labor between the diplomatic service and the Commission services, in particular for the use of geographical and thematic budget lines (EDF European Development Fund, Neighborhood Instrument, European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, for Nuclear Cooperation, Instrument for Stability, etc.) will be set quickly "by the end of 2009". The programming and implementation of these budgets will be the subject of consultations between the High Representative and the Commission services concerned. The final proposal will continue to be adopted by the College of Commissioners.

The Associated Parliament minima. The High Representative will regularly consult the European Parliament on CFSP/ESDP aspects. But nothing more (contrary to the demands of the European Parliament, I will come back to this).

Services. The diplomatic service will include a limited number of vital support functions (security, information technology, human resources management), as well as a small specific legal service. But in order to maintain "cost efficiency", it will have access to the other services of the Council or the Commission (legal service, translation service). Commission delegations will become Union delegations under the authority of the High Representative, and part of the structure of the diplomatic service.

Tripartite staff. Staff will come from three institutions: the General Secretariat of the Council, the Commission and the Member States. These three categories of staff should be treated equally, and be eligible to assume all positions under equivalent conditions. Staff from Member States will have the status of temporary agents (under the rules of the conditions of employment for other agents). with the same rights and obligations. A balance between the different categories must be ensured. Eventually, staff from Member States should represent at least one third of the workforce. The High Representative will be the appointing authority. Recruitment must be carried out according to a transparent procedure, based on merit, with the objective of ensuring (also) geographical balance, and gender balance. A system of rotation will be ensured: firstly, within the service, between the headquarters and the delegations or between the services of the headquarters; then, between the Service and the national diplomatic services;
finally, "if possible", with the other departments of the Commission or of the General Secretariat of the Council.

Recruitment limited to a minimum. As far as possible, the establishment of the Service should be guided by the principle of budgetary neutrality (cost-effectiveness ratio). "All opportunities for rationalization" should be used, if necessary the transformation of temporary posts in the Commission or the Secretariat of the Advice.

Implementation in stages. As Like indicated, this service will not work at full speed right away. Three stages are planned. A first period (preparation) will extend between the entry into force of the Treaty and the adoption of the decision on the organization and operation of the Service. The High Representative will have to submit his proposal with the idea of ​​completing the process in April 2010. This presupposes having to be active... In addition to the services of the Commission and the Council, a "small preparatory team" made up of members of the Commission, the Council Secretariat and the Member States, will support the High Representative. The second stage (scaling up) will start from the adoption of the Council decision until around 2012, adoption of "cruising speed", where a first report on the organization of the service will have to be made . The third stage would last until 2014, making it possible to establish an update on the operation of the service. This revision will include the objective of the Service, as well as the role of the delegations in consular affairs (we know that this is a demand of the European Parliament).