Manufacturing Esprit de Corps: The Case of the European External Action Service

Abstract:

The creation of the European External Action Service (EEAS) begs the question of whether its officials might develop an esprit de corps − understood as the emergence of shared beliefs and values among the individuals within a group and their desire to achieve a common goal − and how this might be achieved. Since the EEAS is composed of officials originating from different institutions, this contribution discusses the challenges associated with aggregating different beliefs and values within the Service. The article examines five factors that have the potential to promote organizational esprit de corps, including communication, leadership, public image, trust and training. It concludes that the first two years of operation of the Service do not bode well for the emergence of an esprit de corps and that, consequently, this might undermine the coherence and effectiveness of the EEAS itself.