The coordination role of the European External Action Service – Mostly working effectively, but some weaknesses in information management, staffing and reporting

Summary:

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the diplomatic service of the European Union. Working together with the EU institutions to implement the EU’s common foreign and security policy, it also provides support to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP). Our audit assessed whether the EEAS’s coordination, both internally and with the Commission and Council, was effective. We found that coordination is mostly effective, allowing the service to properly support the HR/VP in delivering their mandate. However, we found some weaknesses in information management, staffing and reporting. We recommend that the EEAS fully implement its information management strategy and, together with the Commission and the Council, improve briefing tools and the secure exchange of information. Furthermore, the EEAS should improve interaction with EU delegations in the areas of planning, reporting and feedback, and facilitate the follow-up of the 2022 workload assessment in EU delegations.

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