In providing for the establishment of the European External Action Service the Lisbon Treaty made provision for a service to support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. As the Commission, Member States and European Parliament focus on the complexities of establishing this new institution Dr. Mirjam van Reisen, the Director of Europe External Policy Advisors, explores how the proposals currently being put forward fit with the provisions of the Treaty itself. In her Note on the legality of inclusion of aspects of EU Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance in the European External Action Service (EEAS) she concludes that the Treaty extends no powers to the EEAS or the High Representative to implement stages of Development Cooperation or Humanitarian Assistance.

Sources:

• EEPA

• Lawyers say Ashton's EEAS proposal is contrary to Lisbon Treaty
• Parliament links budget approval to agreement on EEAS organisation
• 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
• 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