The Benelux opinion on the future European External Action Service
(BRUXELLES2) The ink of the Irish "Yes" was not yet really dry when the three Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) who want to push forward European integration have released a brief 5-page document , entitled "Implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon". Apparently this document is moreover rather a synthesis or an extract of a much broader document. This memorandum lays down certain principles concerning the European Council and its President, the General Affairs Council, the Foreign Affairs Council and the High Representative and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
In all these aspects, the Benelux countries, which have never been too enthusiastic supporters of the President of the European Council and of unraveling the Community method, show themselves to be in favor of preserving the power of the European Commission and above all of provide the High Representative for Foreign Policy with the means to match his ambitions. Impression reinforced on reading each paragraph, whether it concerns the EEAS's objective, mandate, means and staff.
Objective of the External Action Service. He " must enable the HR to carry out his main missions, namely to implement the CFSP/ESDP, to maintain external relations, through his position within the Commission, and to ensure the coherence of external action ". To this end, " certain services of the Council Secretariat and of the Commission must be transferred under the authority of the EEAS, and effective coordination mechanisms must be created with the services remaining under the authority of the Commission or the
Council Secretariat ».
Implementation. If the EEAS has to “ be implemented gradually », the mandate of the EEAS must « from the beginning be clearly defined and indicate the final objective to be achieved ". The " transition period must end as soon as possible ". It should include a " appointment clause to allow the evaluation of the operation of the EEAS after a few years.
Mandate and scope. The EEAS must have worldwide geographic coverage ". " All country offices must be integrated into the EEAS, which thus becomes a decompartmentalised service, no duplication of country offices within the Secretariat and the Commission”. The offices of DG Development in the countries and certain other aspects of development cooperation policy should also be integrated into the EEAS ». A number of thematic responsibilities should be entrusted to the EEAS, such as civilian missions, human rights and non-proliferation. On the other hand, enlargement, the pre-accession instrument and trade policy (WTO) must remain the domain of the Commission.
External delegations. " As far as Union Delegations are concerned, we should start with some pilot experiences, for example Kabul, Addis Ababa and New York, where two separate Delegations (Council and Commission) currently exist side by side . »
Legal status of the EEAS. For the Benelux, “ it is necessary that the legal status of the EEAS guarantees it sufficient autonomy ", that he has " a functional legal personality empowering it to act as much as necessary ". The EEAS must be a sui generis service, linked both to the Council Secretariat and to the Commission, without however coming under one of these institutions ».
Human resources. " As soon as he takes office, the High Representative must have a support team made up of officials from the Council Secretariat and the Commission, as well as a small number of diplomats from the Member States. (...) At the end of the creation period, the EEAS must be made up in equal numbers of officials from the Council Secretariat, the Commission and officials seconded from the national diplomatic services. »
Financial resources. The Benelux proposes giving the HR financial responsibility for several funds: the CFSP budget, the instrument for stability, the fund for human rights and the financing of the neighborhood policy (which seems to contradict the definition of the mandate). The Commissioner for Development remains responsible for the EDF and the DCI in close collaboration with the HR. Implementation is entrusted to EuropeAid and ECHO.
Read also: the profiles of the new European leaders drawn by the Benelux countries
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