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

• 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
• 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