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Blog AnalysisEEAS High Representative

Parliament begins debate on the status of diplomatic service personnel

(BRUXELLES2) The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament begins the debate on Thursday on the "personnel" regulations of the diplomatic service. This text, together with the Financial Regulation (also under discussion) and the Decision establishing the European External Action Service (adopted at the end of July), constitutes the necessary elements for the launch of the EEAS. A rather technical debate where the differences between the original proposal and the first elements of the report - written by the German socialist Bernhard Rapkay - are not huge.

One of the main differences is in the transition period, where priority is given to diplomats coming from the Member States, the Council and the Commission on an equal basis (contrary to the current situation where priority is given to internal candidates to the Commission or the Council, followed by interinstitutional candidates). The Parliament considers that a period of one year (December 2011) is sufficient where the proposal spoke of 2 1/2 years (June 2013), thus making it possible to open the doors of the diplomatic service earlier to candidates from other European institutions (follow my gaze: of the European Parliament).

Let us recall that the Parliament intervenes, here, in co-decision therefore with full powers. But that normally an informal agreement exists between the legislative trio (Commission, Council, Parliament); which prohibits (at least politically) excessive use of the power of amendment. Adoption in the Legal Affairs Committee is scheduled for September 20, and the vote in plenary for October 19.

Download the draft report

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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