The decision to transfer agents to the diplomatic service is approved
1643 agents (civil servants), to be exact, will be transferred on January 1 to the new diplomatic service of the European Union (EEAS). This is the logical consequence of the decisions adopted last July (establishment of the service) and in November (on the financial regulations and the staff regulations). This decision, which may seem very formal, was eagerly awaited. Without this, the European External Action Service is an empty shell. It has just been adopted by the three institutions concerned: the Commission, the Council and the Service itself.
Staff mainly come from DG Relex, DG Development, as well as the Council's DG External and Political-Military Affairs (DG E).
Table of job transfers (by origin) *
| DG RELEX (Commission) | DG DEV (Commission) | External delegations (Commission) | DG E (Council) | New positions 2010/2011 | Total |
| 585 | 93 | 436 | 411 | 118 | 1643 |
No Deus ex machine...
Almost a year after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, an important part of the new Treaty is coming into force. Don't expect "Deus ex machina" though. Everything is not going to change in a day. The European Union will not become the United States (nor Russia or China) tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. And this is not the objective of this reform. The foreign policy concocted in Europe remains as much the fruit of the work of the 27 capitals (and ministries of foreign affairs) as of the common bodies. This is therefore only one more step towards a little more coherence, visibility and tone in European foreign policy.
But a transformation
It is above all a transformation, a sort of transmutation, the beginning of a new, more fusional process. The stages are somewhat similar (all things considered) to the stages known in legislative matters. We have seen the first stage: that of political cooperation (until the Treaty of Amsterdam). Then the second, that of synchronization, with the first joint decisions, the first defense missions (during the Solana period, 1999-2009). And today starts a new stage that we hope to be able to call co-decision. This 28th diplomatic service will undoubtedly grow and gradually establish itself as a benchmark.
An injection of talents and skills from Member States
In the end, let's leave the last word to the boss of the service, Cathy Ashton (in English): "The service will mark a new beginning for European foreign and security policy as we bring together and streamline all of the Union's existing resources, staff and instruments. We will also receive a fresh injection of talent and skills as we incorporate Member States' diplomats into our team. This combination of staff and resources will be more than the sum of its parts: we will be able to find synergies and develop new ideas, which will enhance our ability to act more creatively and decisively in an increasingly challenging world. " Close the ban... and happy Christmas.
