Solana moots diplomatic service independent of the Commission

By David Cronin

Date: 03/03/05

Javier Solana, the EU's high representative for foreign policy, has floated the idea of setting up the Union's diplomatic service so that it is independent of both the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

The so-called European external action service (EEAS) is to assist the EU's foreign minister, a post that will be created if and when the Union's constitution comes into effect. The service will consist of officials drawn from the Council secretariat and Commission and seconded from national diplomatic services of the EU's member states.

A discussion paper seen by European Voice, presented jointly by Solana and by the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, flags up some of the inter-institutional battles ahead.

Solana has been designated to become the first EU foreign minister, a role in which he will also become a member of the Commission.

The paper argues that "the organisation of the EEAS needs to ensure that the double-hatted minister is equipped to fulfil all his responsibilities effectively".

"The question arises," say Solana and Barroso, "as to whether this should be an autonomous service, neither in the Commission nor in the Council General Secretariat, or whether it should be partly attached to either or both."

A proposal for an autonomous service is almost certain to meet stiff resistance in the European Parliament.

Elmar Brok, chairman of the assembly's foreign affairs committee, says MEPs are adamant that the service should be within the Commission, as the foreign minister is also a vice-president of the EU executive.

"An autonomous bureaucracy would be the most dangerous thing," he said last night (2 March), voicing concerns that the Parliament would not be able to place it under scrutiny. "This could leave the Commission as just an internal market machine," he said.

The joint paper discusses the potential overlap between the EEAS and the Commission and Council secretariats.

It argues that in view of "the minister's particular role" in conducting Common Foreign and Security Policy, including security and defence policy, those working on those areas in the Council and the Commission "should be an integral part of the EEAS". It says that the military staff should be integrated within the EEAS.

"Further thought" is required about whether the EU's Situation Centre - which analyses intelligence from member states, especially about threats to security - should be brought within the service or should remain in the Council, the paper says. "In any event, the minister will be one of its [the centre's] main clients and must be able to order assessments and evaluations directly," it adds.

It argues that the EEAS must have "geographical desks which cover all the countries/regions of the world". These desks should not be duplicated either in the CGS or the Commission, the paper says. It also envisages "single thematic desks, located within the EEAS, on issues such as human rights, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and relations with international organisations such as the UN".

It suggests that there is "no prima facie case" for incorporating the Commission's departments for trade, development policy and humanitarian assistance, and management of external financial assistance and the enlargement negotiations. These areas will, it suggests, be "co-ordinated by the minister inside the Commission".

It is inconclusive on whether the EU's delegations abroad would form part of the EEAS.

The EEAS would, it suggests, contain a service responsible for relations with the Parliament, "in view of the growing importance of the European Parliament in external relations".

The paper will be considered by EU ambassadors next Thursday (10 March). It is intended to begin discussions with member states to prepare a joint progress report from Solana and Barroso to the European Council in June.

In a discussion paper presented jointly by the EU's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the idea is brought up of setting up the European Union's diplomatic service so that it is independent of both the European Commission and the Council of Ministers. The so-called European external action service (EEAS) is planned to assist the EU's Foreign Minister, a post that is to be created subject to the coming into effect of the Constitutional Treaty for Europe. The service is planned to consist of officials drawn from the Council secretariat and Commission and seconded from national diplomatic services of the EU's Member States.