With the “Lisbon format”, the Commission complicit in the presidency
It's back to school. And, for years, it was a ritual. At the beginning of each semester, the chairman of the various committees or working groups of the Council on foreign policy saw a newcomer take the place of the "chairman", armed or not with the bell (like Me Ashton in the photo).
This beginning of January did not fail in tradition. But with a singular difference. These committees or working groups, which bring together experts, diplomats or soldiers, from the 27 Member States by theme (UN, human rights, etc.) or geography (Africa, Asia, etc.) are no longer chaired by a their peers (from the country holding the rotating presidency) but by a diplomat (European or from a Member State) appointed by the High Representative of the EU, Cathy Ashton. Treaty of Lisbon obliges.
The Commission to the right of the "chairman"
Comment from a regular at his meetings: "the Commission representative, who usually sat opposite the Presidency, spontaneously moved to his right"It's more than a symbol."We have the mark of the change driven by the Treaty of Lisbon. The two institutions set in motion. And it's beneficial for everyone". Everything is not yet quite ready. And the stewardship had a hard time keeping up, sometimes. So to summon the politico-military group, the Belgian Bert Versmessen still had to use his email address as a Belgian diplomat .
The email addresses of the diplomatic service soon in service
But it should be back to normal, another official from the European diplomatic service told me. "Little by little, everyone will receive their email address". It will be "eeas.europa.eu". Simply "the old email addresses of the various Commission or Council diplomats will still remain valid for at least six months" History to ensure the junction.
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