Budget deal ends dispute over EU corps of diplomats

A key obstacle delaying the establishment of the new European Union diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service (EEAS), was removed on the 21 June 2010 after Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief, and Members of the European Parliament agreed to a compromise over the service's budget and other features.

The package of recommendations on the EEAS's organisation and working methods was formally approved by the European Parliament on the 8 July 2010.

European Parliament: Press Release, 8.7.10: EU diplomatic service: Parliament gives go-ahead to Madrid deal http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/030-78057-186-07-28-903-20100707IPR78056-05-07-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

European Union: Press Release: A 129/10: Statement by HR Catherine Ashton following the vote in the European Parliament on the European Union External Action Service http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/115736.pdf

European Commission: MEMO/10/311: EEAS decision – main elements http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/311&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EurActiv, 7.7.10: Parliament mellows on EU diplomatic service http://www.euractiv.com/en/priorities/parliament-mellows-on-eu-diplomatic-service-news-496060

EurActiv, 12.7.10: Tories get EU diplomatic service off the ground http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/tories-get-eu-diplomatic-service-news-496203

ESO: Background information: European External Action Service (EEAS) http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-decision-of-26-july-2010-establishing-the-organization-and-functioning-of-the-european-external-action-service-2010-427-eu/

European Union: Background Briefing by James Morrison, Head of Private Office of the HR And Poul Christoffersen, Special Advisor of the HR, on the European External Action Service following political agreement reached today in Madrid, 21.6.10 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/115427.pdf

European Parliament: Press Release, 21.6.10: Statement on the European External Action Service http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/030-76451-172-06-26-903-20100621IPR76450-21-06-2010-2010-false/default_en.htm

EurActiv, 22.6.10: Spanish Presidency seals EEAS deal http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/spanish-presidency-seals-eeas-de-news-495455

Le Monde, 23.6.10: Budget deal ends dispute over EU corps of diplomats (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/280041-meps-make-stand

Council of the European Union: Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service, June 2010 http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/st11/st11507.en10.pdf

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