MEPs have affirmed that the European Parliament’s approval of the budget and staff allocations for the new European External Action Service (EEAS) is to be conditional on approval of Baroness Ashton’s final proposal for its set-up. MEPs’ key concern is that the EEAS must be under the authority of the European Commission, and be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. The group leaders and the rapporteurs working on the EEAS have said that it is unlikely Parliament will have time to scrutinise the full package of proposals before summer.

Ashton’s controversial current proposals make the EEAS a partially intergovernmental body which would take over operations currently performed by the Commission, including parts of development policy.

In a poorly attended debate on the budget on Wednesday 21 April in Strasbourg, Conservative MEP Ryszard Czarnecki said: “The Council leaves a lot to be desired when we talk about budgetary matters.”

“Certain aspects of the common foreign and security policy are still not clear, the budgetary measures and accounts are still not clear,” he added.

Centre-right MEP Véronique Mathieu singled out the UK-based European Police College (CEPOL) for criticism, which is currently being investigated for fraud allegations.

“The audit carried out shows there are irregularities, blatant ones, in terms of administration and finance, and that's why we would like to defer discharge,” said Ms Mathieu.

Sources:

• European Parliament
• EUobserver

• The dysfuntionality of the EEAS
• EU diplomatic service responds to a fresh set of criticism coming from the member states
• The ongoing implementation of the EEAS
• Is there any commitment to an effective EU common foreign policy?
• Ashton responds to concerns raised in light of new External Action Service
• The EU looks to civil society organisations in the Arab region
• European External Action Service: Much remains to be done
• Ashton appoints two Managing Directors for the EEAS
• EEAS to launch on 1 December
• Parliament wins greater powers over EEAS
• Potential Delay in EEAS Launch
• Parliament demands more control over EEAS budget
• Amnesty raises concerns over position of human rights in EEAS
• MEPs protest EEAS appointments by delaying vote
• The European External Actions Service (EEAS)
• Ashton aims for balance over top EEAS appointments
• MEPs protest imbalanced EEAS appointments
• Half of DG Development staff to be moved to EEAS
• EU Parliament finally approves EEAS
• These meetings are like capacity building - for whom?
• Final details of EEAS emerge
• A political agreement reached on creation of EEAS
• Community method - the make or break for EP agreement on the EEAS
• National parliamentarians discuss EEAS with MEPs
• Should we reject Ashton's proposals on establishing the EEAS?
• Ashton's team expect agreement soon on terms for establish the EEAS
• Development policy within the External Action Service
• Development-proofing the European External Action Service
• The Development Commissioner must have full responsibility and authority over development, urge NGOs
• No progress in turf war over EEAS
• Negotiations on the EEAS need development perspective
• Court of Auditors adds its voice to concerns over EEAS
• Ashton’s EEAS proposal breaches EU law
• Lawyers say Ashton's EEAS proposal is contrary to Lisbon Treaty
• Green perspectives on EEAS: Debate with Civil Society
• EU’s new diplomatic service to control development budget
• Ashton's proposal for the EEAS contradicts the intentions of the Treaty
• Ashton outlines organisational structure of EEAS
• MEPs' anger over EEAS
• Establishing the EEAS in conformity with the Treaty
• EU Commission and Member States battle for control of EEAS
• EU institutions struggle for control of EEAS
• Commission discusses terms of recruitment for EEAS
• Ashton sidelines Parliament in creation of EEAS working group
• Briefing No. 48: Defining the EU's Management and Implementation of its External Actions
• Briefing No. 44: Five Compelling Reasons why to keep Development outside the EEAS