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Marie-Jeanne Capuano

Director EU Programmes

+32 (0)470 693 060

contact@diplomacystrategy.org

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DIPLOMACY & STRATEGY

Winning the Future

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EEAS FOCUS

Navigating the EU Diplomacy

The Lisbon Treaty has introduced an unprecedented transformation in the EU Institutions. As the buttress of all the future international activity of Europe, the European External Action Service (EEAS) is now a key player. Diplomats and experts from non-EU countries face the challenge of understanding and navigating the new EU environment. The EEAS FOCUS series provides insights into this evolution.

Updated 15 March 2011

Sourcing New Money



       The influence of the EEAS will be determined by its budget capacity. In this regard, autonomy is not a synonym for profligacy. The principle of an incremental development has been agreed.



       Kick-off Budget

The relevant budget lines from Commission and Council Secretariat will be transferred to the EEAS. For the kick-off period of 2010, Catherine Ashton had requested 9.5 million and this request was approved by the Commission and the General Affairs Council.

An amending budget covering the period of October to December for the initial needs of the EEAS was presented. The Parliament gave its approval after formal arrangements on Staff and Financial Regulations.

According to experts, the future EU budget will include a new "EEAS" section.  An amendment to the current budget could earmark 79.6 million in addition to the existing spending of the EU Commission. This amount would be dispatched into 46 million for staffing (43 million for transfers and 3 million for training), 5.9 million for functioning and logistics. Common Foreign and Security Policy would absorb 27.7 million.



Looking Forward

On 15 September 2010, the Commission has released a proposal covering the transfer of appropriations from the existing budget sections of the Commission and the Council. This draft for a revised budget amounts to 475.8 million for the 2011 operations of the EEAS. It will be subject to negotiations between the EU institutions in the coming weeks.

                                                          Proposed budget

                                                     (as of 15 September 2010)



Where Are We Now?

On 20 September, British media have reported that Mrs Ashton would request a 8% budget increase before the EEAS is fully operational. This request would overrun the current projection by 33.5 million. An extra 28,4 million would be requested to pay wages and an extra 5,08 million for upgrading buildings of the new Brussels HQ (which has yet to be chosen). The HR press office has confirmed that the only budget reference is the decision of 15 September (adoption of the amended letter 1 on 2011 budget of the EEAS)

On 20 October 2010, the requested budget of 9.5 million has been adopted by EUROPARL and confirmed by the Foreign Affairs Council on 25 October. This proposal is now to be confirmed in the 2011 budget ■

   More about the EEAS Budget in "Budget Conundrum"



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diplomats and experts from non-EU countries.

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EEAS FOCUS

The Lisbon Treaty has introduced an unprecedented transformation in the EU Institutions. As the buttress of all the future international activity of Europe, the European External Action Service (EEAS) is now a key player. Diplomats and experts from non-EU countries face the challenge of understanding and navigating the new EU environment. The EEAS FOCUS series provides insights of this evolution.

Tracking Development Dossiers

Marie-Jeanne Capuano

Director EU Programmes

+32 (0)470 693 060

New Portfolios

Previously, the Belgian Commissioner Louis Michel was in charge of Development (DG DEV) and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO Office).

The new Commission (Barroso II 2009-2014) comes with important changes in portfolio. Development is now under the responsibility of Commissioner Andris Piebalgs at DG DEV. Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) hase been transferred to the leadership of Kristalina Giorgieva, a new Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

New work process

Regarding the Development and Cooperation agendas, the Decision of 26 July 2010 establishing the EEAS provides some concise features regarding the coming collaboration between the EEAS and the Commission.

The management of the EU's external cooperation programmes remains under the responsibility of the DEV Commissioner. However, depending of the dossier, the EEAS contributes all along the process. Some proposals and initiatives should be prepared by the EEAS following the Commission's procedures and will be submitted to the Commission for adoption. The EEAS has competencies on the whole cycle of definition, preparation, planning, development, implementation and evaluation phases.

Co-decision Principle

This provision applies for dossiers related to the European Development Fund and the Development Cooperation Instrument.

These dossiers benefit from a specific provision organizing a co-decision between DG DEV and the EEAS. Proposals, changes and programmes will be prepared jointly by relevant services of the EEAS and of the Commission.

The DEVE Commissioner oversees this process. Therefore, before the first phase of the consultation process, he is responsible of an upstream coordination bringing together services from other DG (Development, Environment, Energy, ) under the supervision of DG DEV. Decisions proceed from an initial collective examination and shall be submitted jointly for adoption by the Commission.

A la carte Consultations

This provision applies for dossiers regarding other thematic programs. Cross-cutting dossiers are concerned. There is no list of specific issues but this wide-ranging concept related to

"political topics" such as Democracy promotion, gender balance, and Human Rights;

"non political" topics such as sustainable environment or emergency aid.

Decisions, proposals, changes and initiatives shall be prepared by the appropriate Commission DG under the guidance and supervision of the DEVE Commissioner and presented to the College of 27 Commissioners in agreement with the HR.

Recommendations

The existing arrangements for organisation and functioning are poorly defined. This change challenges the institutional balance and the principle of separation of powers inside the EU. From the new configuration of the EU system for External Action, experts outline a risk of conflicts of interests, colliding agendas, information retention, overlapping of resources and duplication of efforts.

For Representations from non-EU countries in Brussels, there is no way for a business as usual approach. While the cards are currently being reshuffled, the rule of the game is changing. The policy-making process may become less transparent. The decision-making process may become time-consuming. Additional complexity and further uncertainties can hinder the dialogue with the EU.

In this context, it is crucial that non-EU countries get a clear picture of the new responsibilities and competences regarding Development, Cooperation and other strategic issues. The capacity of re-mapping the EU environment can provide a competitive advantage in discussions and negotiations ■

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