Procedure completed
2009/2133(INI) Institutional aspects of creating a European service for external action
Lead committee dossier: AFCO/7/00990
Legal Basis RoP 052
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | AFCO | BROK Elmar (PPE) | GUALTIERI Roberto (S&D), DUFF Andrew (ALDE), TARAND Indrek (Verts/ALE), FOX Ashley (ECR), SCHOLZ Helmut (GUE/NGL), MESSERSCHMIDT Morten (EFD) |
| Opinion | AFET | NEYTS-UYTTEBROECK Annemie (ALDE) | |
| Opinion | DEVE | JOLY Eva (Verts/ALE) |
Legal Basis RoP 052
Subjects
Activites
-
2009/10/22
Results of vote in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament
-
T7-0057/2009
summary
The European Parliament adopted by 424 votes to 94, with 30 abstentions, a resolution on the institutional aspects of setting up the European External Action Service (EEAS). It recalls that the organisation and operation of the EEAS will be established by a decision of the Council, acting on a proposal from the Vice President/High Representative after consulting Parliament and after obtaining the consent of the Commission, once the Treaty of Lisbon has entered into force. Parliament considers that a number of issues of principle with regard to the form of the EEAS should be resolved in sufficiently good time to enable it to begin its work as soon as possible after the appointment of the Vice President/High Representative. It is for this reason that it proposes a number of general guidelines concerning the EEAS. Moreover, the establishment of the EEAS must include agreement on the budgetary aspects.Associate the Parliament in the setting up of the EEAS:Parliament calls on the Commission, the Council, the Member States and the next High Representative/Vice President to clearly commit itself to reach a comprehensive, ambitious and consensual plan for the setting up of the EEAS. Parliament considers that a body such as the EEAS cannot be completely circumscribed or predetermined in advance, but must be put in place by a gradual process based on mutual trust and a growing fund of expertise and shared experience.Guiding principles for setting up the EEAS: Parliament affirms the following principles and urges the Commission, when making future proposals, to insist on compliance with those principles, in accordance with the spirit and purpose of the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon and the spirit of the deliberations of the Convention: EEAS staff: appointments to the EEAS should be made on the basis of merit, expertise and excellence in appropriate proportions and respecting the geographical balance from the Commission, the Council and national diplomatic services via an open and transparent process.Organisation: the EEAS should take a form which improves the consistency of the external action of the Union and its representation in foreign relations, for which purpose in particular the units dealing with external relations in the stricter sense and senior positions in the delegations in third countries should be brought under the umbrella of the EEAS. The report states that it is not, however, necessary to strip the Commission Directorates-General of all their external relations responsibilities. The Commission, striving to avoid duplication, should provide a specific model for the departments concerned. The military and civilian crisis management units must be placed under the High Representative's authority, while the command and organisational structure may have to differ from that for civilian personnel. Lastly, Commission delegations in third countries and the Council liaison offices, as well as offices of the EU Special Representatives where possible, should be merged to form 'Union embassies', headed by EEAS staff. The EEAS must ensure that the European Parliament has contact persons in the EU Delegations that guarantee cooperation with the European Parliament (for example in order to foster parliamentary contacts in third countries).Administrative structure: as a service that is sui generis from an organisational and budgetary point of view, the EEAS must be incorporated into the Commission's administrative structure. Parliament considers that the decision relating to the establishment of the EEAS should ensure in a legally binding manner, by means of the directorial powers of the Vice President/High Representative, that the Service is subject to the decisions of the Council in the traditional fields of external policy (CFSP and CSDP) and subject to the decisions of the College of Commissioners in the field of common external relations.General guidelines of the EEAS: Parliament considers that the EEAS should be constituted as follows:all staff of the EEAS should have the same permanent or temporary status and the same rights and obligations irrespective of their origin;the powers of the appointing authority for the EEAS should be assigned to the Vice President/High Representative; EEAS staff should possess a certain objective independence, so that the service can perform its duties optimally; such independence could be ensured by appointments for a fixed period, such as five years, with the possibility of an extension, which could be reduced only if the member of staff concerned violates official obligations;the decision on the setting-up of the EEAS should establish the organisational structure of the service, with the provision that the establishment plan should be adopted as a part of the budget of the Commission (administrative expenditure) in the course of the annual budget procedure, making it possible to build the service in a structured manner, keeping pace with ascertained needs; in his or her absence, the Vice President/High Representative should decide on a substitute on a case-by-case basis and in the light of the duties to be performed on each occasion.Budgetary approach: Parliament recalls the need to find an agreement with the Parliament on the future Commission proposals amending the Financial Regulation and the Staff Regulations. It reiterates its determination to exercise its budgetary powers to the full in connection with these institutional innovations and emphasises that all aspects of the funding arrangements for the EEAS must remain under the supervision of the budgetary authority in accordance with the Treaties. General structure of the EEAS: Parliament considers that the EEAS should: (i) be headed by a Director-General answerable to the Vice President/High Representative; (ii) be divided into a number of directorates, each of which would be responsible for a geo-strategically important field of the Union's external relations, and further directorates for security and defence policy issues, civilian crisis management, multilateral and horizontal affairs including human rights and administrative matters; (iii) structure the cooperation of country units in Brussels with the delegations (embassies) of the Union in third countries in the context of each directorate; (iv) associate the EU delegations in third countries in order to enhance gains in efficiency. Information to the European Parliament: Parliament requests that it be duly informed about the appointments to senior posts in the EEAS and to agree to the committee conducting hearings with the nominees, if the committee so decides. They also request that the next Vice President/High Representative commit him/herself to renegotiating the current interinstitutional agreement with the European Parliament, in particular on access to sensitive information and other issues relevant for smooth interinstitutional cooperation.New responsibilities: Parliament also proposes that enquiries be made to determine the extent to which Union embassy staff on secondment from national consular services, beyond performing their political and economic tasks, could gradually assume responsibility, where necessary, for consular tasks in relation to nationals of non-member countries and for tasks related to diplomatic and consular protection of Union citizens in third countries. Furthermore, it proposes that consideration be given to possibilities for cooperation between Parliament officials and the EEAS.Parliament proposes setting up a European diplomatic college which, in close cooperation with appropriate bodies in the Member States, would provide Union officials and officials of the Member States who are to work in external relations functions with training based on uniformly harmonised curricula.Lastly, Plenary calls on the Commission to consent to the Vice President/High Representative's proposal only once it largely complies with the guidelines set out in this resolution or once a differing compromise solution has been achieved by consensus through interinstitutional contacts involving Parliament.
- 2009/10/21 Debate in Parliament
- 2009/10/20 Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
-
2009/10/19
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A7-0041/2009
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T7-0057/2009
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 89 |
2009/2133(INI)
2009/10/08
AFCO
42 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 1 – having regard to Article 3(5) and Articles 18, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 47 of the Treaty on European Union in the version resulting from the Treaty of Lisbon,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I a (new) Ia. whereas the EEAS should seek a dialogue with the relevant civil society stakeholders, which dialogue should take place on an organisational level, at the policy level and at an operational level,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Calls on the Commission, the Council, the Member States and the next High Representative to clearly commit themselves to a comprehensive and ambitious plan for the setting-up of the EEAS, as a gradual and step-by-step approach could lead to inconsistencies and waste of resources;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 3. Recommends that the approach with regard to the EEAS, which will be established in accordance with Articles 18, 27 and 40 of the Treaty on European Union in the version resulting from the Treaty of Lisbon, should evolve in the light of experience; considers that a body such as the EEAS cannot be completely circumscribed or predetermined in advance, but must be put in place by a gradual process based on mutual trust and a growing fund of expertise and shared experience;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Recalls that the EEAS must guarantee full application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in all aspects of the Union's external action in accordance with the spirit and purpose of the Lisbon Treaty; expects, at the same time, that the EEAS will ensure that respect for and the promotion of human rights are at the core of the different areas of the Union's external policy as enshrined in Articles 2, 3 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union in the version thereof resulting from the Lisbon Treaty; underlines the responsibility of the EEAS to guarantee the consistency between its external action and its other policies in accordance with Article 21(3) of the Treaty on European Union in the version thereof resulting from the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point a (a) appointments to the EEAS should be made on the basis of merit, expertise and excellence in appropriate and balanced proportions from the Commission, the Council and national diplomatic services via an open and transparent process, ensuring that the VP/HR can draw on the knowledge and experience of all three in the same way; furthermore, the institutional set-up of the EEAS must include a gender architecture that duly reflects the commitments made by the Union with regard to gender mainstreaming;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point a (a) appointments to the EEAS should be made on the basis of merit, expertise and excellence, with due respect for proportional geographical representation and in appropriate and balanced proportions from the Commission, the Council and national diplomatic services, ensuring that the VP/HR can draw on the knowledge and experience of all three in the same way;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point a (a) appointments to the EEAS should be made on the basis of merit, expertise and excellence in appropriate
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point b (b) the EEAS
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point b (b) the EEAS should take a form which improves the
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point b (b) the EEAS should take a form which improves the uniformity and coherence of the external action of the Union and its representation in foreign relations, for which purpose in particular the units dealing with external relations in the stricter sense and senior positions in the delegations in third countries should be brought under the umbrella of the EEAS; in the course of further development, consideration can then be given to what other functions should also be assigned to the EEAS;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A A. whereas the form of the future European External Action Service (EEAS) is extremely important if the Union's external relations are to be rendered more coherent and efficient and if their profile is to be raised; whereas the EEAS should conduct its work on the basis of the core EU values and principles shared by the European citizens,
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point b a (new) (ba) the EEAS should be established and set up within the administrative and budgetary remit of the Commission while faithfully carrying out its Treaty mandate to assist the High Representative in conducting the Union's common foreign and security policy on behalf of the Council;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point c (c) it is not, however, necessary to strip the Commission Directorates-General of all their external relations responsibilities; particularly in fields where the Commission has executive powers, the integrity of current Community policies with an external dimension should be preserved; the Commission
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point c (c) it is not, however, necessary to strip the Commission Directorates-General of all their external relations responsibilities; particularly in fields where the Commission has executive powers, the integrity of current Community policies with an external dimension should be preserved; the Commission, striving to avoid duplication, should provide a specific model for the departments concerned, such as the Directorates- General for trade, enlargement and development and relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific States, EuropeAid, the Humanitarian Aid department, and the externally oriented units of the Directorate- General for Economic and Financial Affairs;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point c a (new) (ca) the EEAS must include the military and civilian crisis management units within the Council secretariat, even if for military personnel the command and organisational structure may have to differ from that for civilian personnel; the sharing of the intelligence analysis of players within the EEAS is of vital importance in order to assist the High Representative in fulfilling his/her mandate of conducting a coherent, consistent and efficient external Union policy;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point d (d) Commission delegations in third countries and the Council liaison offices should be merged to form 'Union embassies', headed by EEAS staff, who would be answerable to the VP/HR;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point d (d) Commission delegations in third countries and the Council liaison offices should be merged to form 'Union embassies', headed by EEAS staff, under the direction of a chief resident coordinator for all external actions including those administered by EU Special Representatives and Heads of ESDP missions, who would be answerable to the VP/HR; specialist advisers from Commission Directorates-General should not be prevented from being seconded to work in that framework;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point d (d) Commission delegations in third countries and the Council liaison offices, as well as offices of the EU Special Representatives where possible, should be merged to form 'Union embassies', headed by EEAS staff, who would be answerable to the VP/HR; specialist advisers from Commission Directorates-General should not be prevented from being seconded to work in that framework;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) (da) the building of an "esprit de corps" through joint training and professional development is essential for the EEAS's ultimate objective of creating a framework of integrated diplomacy that brings together national and European levels of diplomacy; in order to develop a common European diplomatic culture in the EU's international relations, joint training programmes and a common diplomatic syllabus will be required; the existing training measures and networks of diplomatic training centres could usefully be brought together in a European Diplomatic Academy;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 4 – point d a (new) (da) CFSP and ESDP policy programming and planning structures from the Council secretariat should be brought under the umbrella of the EEAS;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 – introductory part 5. Believes that, as a sui generis service from an organisational, functional and budgetary point of view, the EEAS must be incorporated into the Commission's administrative structure; considers that the decision relating to the establishment of the EEAS should ensure in a legally binding manner, by means of the directorial powers of the VP/HR, that the Service – as laid down in the Treaty of Lisbon – is subject to the decisions of the Council in the traditional
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas the overall aim of the EEAS should be to improve the coherence of the EU’s external policies, including on the one hand the institutional working relationship and division of competencies between the respective institutions, and on the other hand the coherence between the whole range of EU policy areas; whereas no particular area of EU external action policy should have primacy over another, and whereas coherence should therefore be seen primarily in terms of adherence to the EU's core values and principles,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 – point d a (new) (da) secondment to the EEAS by national diplomatic services should be treated as an integral part of the career path within those services;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 5 – point f (f) in his or her absence, the VP/HR should decide on a substitute on a case-by-case basis on the recommendation of the Director-General and in the light of the duties to be performed on each occasion;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 – point b (b) be divided into a number of directorates, each of which would be responsible for
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 – point c a (new) (ca) Notes that, while the EU delegations in third countries will complement existing diplomatic representations of the Member States, there will be possibilities for long-term gains in efficiency, as the future EU delegation could in many cases take over consular services and deal with Schengen visa issues;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Believes that the decision establishing the organisation and operation of the EEAS should also stipulate that Union embassies in third countries must, whenever necessary, provide logistical and administrative support to the members of all Union institutions;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Believes that the decision establishing the organisation and operation of the EEAS should also stipulate that Union embassies in third countries must, whenever necessary, provide logistical and administrative support to the members of all Union institutions;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Believes that the decision establishing the organisation and operation of the EEAS should also stipulate that Union embassies in third countries must, whenever necessary, according to the resources at their disposal, provide logistical and administrative support to the members of all Union institutions; considers that, subject to the consent of the VP/HR, heads of embassies should be accountable to the parliamentary committees concerned and should be required to undergo an appropriate hearing procedure before they
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Proposes that enquiries be made to determine the extent to which Union embassy staff on secondment from national consular services, beyond their political and economic tasks, could gradually assume responsibility, where necessary, for consular tasks in relation to nationals of non-member countries and for tasks related to diplomatic and consular protection of Union citizens in third countries, as already provided for by Article 20 of the EC Treaty; proposes, furthermore, that consideration be given to possibilities of cooperation between Parliament
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Considers that it is necessary to take further steps as regards providing Union officials with external relation
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Considers that it is necessary to take further steps as regards providing Union officials with external relations training; suggests setting up a European diplomatic college which, in close cooperation with appropriate bodies in the Member States, would provide Union officials and officials of the Member States who are to work in external relations functions, with training based on uniformly harmonised curricula including appropriate training in consular and legation procedures, diplomacy and international relations,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the EEAS will mainly serve to enhance EU action in the EU's neighbourhood, in crisis management and in peace-building, as well as enhancing its comprehensive approach to international organisations and emerging countries,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Considers that it is necessary to take further steps as regards providing Union officials with external relations training; suggests setting up a European diplomatic college which, in cooperation with appropriate bodies in the Member States, would provide Union officials and officials of the Member States who are to work in external relations functions, with appropriate training in consular and legation procedures, the provision of consular and legal support for diplomats, diplomacy and international relations, including knowledge of the history and workings of the European Union;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Reiterates its determination to exercise its budgetary powers to the full in connection with these institutional innovations; emphasises that all aspects of the funding arrangements for the EEAS must remain under the supervision of the budgetary authority in accordance with the Treaties;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Considers that the appropriate committees of Parliament should review the functioning and goals of the EEAS within three years, with regard to the effectiveness of the institution, and should make recommendations with the aim of further improving the same, according to the special procedure whereby the Council acts unanimously on a proposal from the VP/HR, after consulting the European Parliament and after obtaining the consent of the Commission;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution Recital D D. whereas the establishment of the EEAS
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H H. whereas the organisation and operation of the EEAS will be established by a decision of the Council, acting on a proposal from the VP/HR after consulting Parliament and relevant civil society organisations or sectoral NGO platforms, and after obtaining the consent of the Commission, once the Treaty of Lisbon has entered into force,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution Recital H a (new) Ha. whereas the European Parliament should play a greater role in external relations despite enjoying fewer competencies in this area than in others, and whereas the EEAS should seek to fill this lacuna in democratic accountability by actively seeking to involve Parliament more in the formulation of policy and to share information with it,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I a (new) Ia. taking into account the fact that the European Parliament will be consulted on the setting-up of the EEAS, and given the budgetary consequences, believes that an early and substantive dialogue with Parliament is essential for the effective start-up of the EEAS and to ensure that it receives the necessary financial resources,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution Recital I a (new) Ia. whereas the principle of gender equality requires balanced representation of women and men to be ensured in public life, including in the procedures for appointments to the principal political posts in the European Union such as those of permanent President of the EU Council and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
source: PE-429.678
2009/10/12
DEVE
2 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Recital D b a (new) Dba. whereas the EEAS should have a strong development dimension; and whereas the principles of development policy, which are centred around long- term objectives, multilateralism, solidarity, dialogue and reconciliation of interests, would be desirable corner-stones of a future EU foreign policy,
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Recital D c (new) Dc. whereas the Lisbon Treaty singles out development cooperation as an autonomous policy area with specific objectives and on an equal footing with other external policies, in no way subordinated to foreign, security or defence policies, acknowledging the importance both of policy coherence for development and of consistency between different EU external actions, which also requires the revival of a proper Council of development and cooperation ministers,
source: PE-430.282
2009/10/16
AFET
45 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Recalls that the role of the European Union as a global player has increased over the last decades and that a new approach is needed if the EU is to speak with one voice in the international arena and act collectively
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point a (a) the EEAS should not be an autonomous service but should be established and set up within the administrative and budgetary remit of the Commission while faithfully carrying out its Treaty mandate to assist the High Representative in conducting the Union's common foreign and security policy on behalf of the Council and pursuing the Commission's external action;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point a (a) the EEAS should be established and set up within the administrative and budgetary remit of the Commission while faithfully carrying out its Treaty mandate to assist the Vice-President/High Representative in conducting the Union's common foreign and security policy
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point a a (new) (aa) the institutional set-up of the EEAS must include a gender architecture that duly reflects the Union's commitments with regard to gender mainstreaming; furthermore, the structure and working methods of the EEAS must enhance deconcentration and decentralisation of decision-making and implementation of EU programmes, projects and policies, and must ensure that the heads of the new EEAS embassies serve as the chief residential coordinators for all external policies in their given country, including those administered by Special Representatives and European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) missions;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b (b) the EEAS must deal with the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP)
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b (b) the EEAS must deal with the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and with the tasks and policies currently dealt with by the Directorate- General for External Relations (DG Relex) in the Commission; in addition, the High Representative, jointly with the Commissioners concerned, should present a comprehensive proposal on how other major external action-related policies will be organised in the new institutional set- up; enlargement, trade, development and humanitarian aid together constitute a substantial part of the EU's overall external policies
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b (b) the EEAS must deal with the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and with the tasks and policies currently dealt with by the Directorate- General for External Relations (DG Relex) in the Commission; in addition, the High Representative should present a comprehensive proposal on how other major external action-related policies will be organised in the new institutional set- up; enlargement, trade, development and humanitarian aid together constitute a substantial part of the EU's overall external policies
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b (b) the EEAS must deal with the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and with the tasks and policies currently dealt with by the Directorate- General for External Relations (DG Relex) in the Commission; in addition, the High Representative should present a
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b (b) the EEAS must deal with the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and with the tasks and policies currently dealt with by the Directorate- General for External Relations (DG Relex) in the Commission; in addition, the High Representative should present a comprehensive proposal on how other major external action-related policies will be organised in the new institutional set- up; enlargement, human rights, energy security, climate change, trade, development and humanitarian aid together constitute a substantial part of the EU's overall external policies; in order to achieve a single common foreign policy through the institutional set-up, there are compelling reasons to include development policy and enlargement policy, where appropriate, in areas within the new service;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b (b) the EEAS must deal with the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and with the tasks and policies currently dealt with by the Directorate- General for External Relations (DG Relex) in the Commission; in addition, the High Representative should present a comprehensive proposal on how other major external action-related policies will be organised in the new institutional set- up; crisis management and peace- building, enlargement, trade, development, the environment, energy, and humanitarian aid together constitute a substantial part of the EU's overall external policies;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b (b) the EEAS must deal with the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and with the tasks and policies currently dealt with by the Directorate- General for External Relations (DG Relex) in the Commission; in addition, the High Representative should present a comprehensive proposal on how other major external action-related policies will be organised in the new institutional set- up; enlargement, trade, development and
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses that the discussion in Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs on the establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS) was organised at very short notice; accordingly, requests the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, as the lead committee, to call on the Commission to extend the time available for consideration and discussion of the establishment of the EEAS, so as to allow Parliament properly to give its opinion on this new service and on the way in which it should be designed by the Commission;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point b a (new) (ba) the EEAS must guarantee full application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in all aspects of the Union's external action in accordance with the spirit and purpose of the Lisbon Treaty; expects, at the same time, that the EEAS will ensure that the respect for, and the promotion of, human rights are at the core of the different areas of the Union’s external policy as enshrined in Articles 2, 3 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union in the version thereof resulting from the Lisbon Treaty; underlines the responsibility of the EEAS to guarantee the consistency between its external action and its other policies in accordance with the Article 21(3);
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point c (c) the EEAS must not include the military and civilian crisis management units within the Council secretariat
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point c (c)
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point c (c) the EEAS must include particular branches for the military and civilian crisis management units within the Council secretariat,
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point c (c) the EEAS must include the military and civilian crisis management units within the Council secretariat, even if for military personnel the command and organisational structure may have to differ from that for
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point c a (new) (ca) the Service should permit the establishment of a 'European civil security reserve' comprising units from each country, trained to work together to respond more effectively to major disasters (forest fires or floods, but also the use of weapons of mass destruction for terrorist purposes or technological risks) and, if appropriate, to serve as a tool for European intervention in response to major disasters elsewhere in the world, which intervention could constitute a strong political action which would give Europe the image of a protector;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point d (d) the High Representative should pay particular attention to recruitment and staff issues, a
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point d (d) the High Representative should pay particular attention to recruitment and staff issues, as the EEAS will encompass staff from the Commission, from the Council and from the Member States; for the EEAS to become a professional diplomatic service it will need to be adequately resourced and staffed on the basis of merit and with respect for
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point f (f) the building of an "esprit de corps" through joint training and professional development is essential for the EEAS's ultimate objective of creating a framework of integrated diplomacy that brings together national and European levels of diplomacy, ESDP and civilian crisis management and conflict prevention experts; in order to develop a common European diplomatic culture in the EU's international relations, joint training programmes and a common diplomatic syllabus will be required; the existing training measures and networks of diplomatic training centres could usefully be brought together in a European
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point f (f) the building of an "esprit de corps" through joint training and professional development is essential for the EEAS's
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Recalls that, since 2000, the European Union has committed itself to setting up an international peace-keeping force consisting of civilians to participate in crisis management and conflict prevention in third countries; endorses the view that the Union should participate directly in conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace after conflicts by giving peace-keepers the requisite skills and abilities to prevent civil and humanitarian crises;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point f a (new) (fa) moreover, the EEAS should help to coordinate among the offices of the High Representative, the President of the European Council, the President of the Commission and the Heads of State or Government of the rotating Presidency in order to provide unified and cohesive responses in any possible foreign affairs situation; permanent coordination should be established taking into account the position of the European Parliament, through its President, committees and delegations;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 – point f a (new) (fa) the EEAS must ensure that the European Parliament has contact persons in the EU delegations that guarantee cooperation with the European Parliament (for example in order to look after parliamentary contacts in third countries);
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. While the European Union delegations will be an integral part of the EEAS, and while they should take their instructions from and be subject to the supervision of the High Representative and should administratively belong to the Commission, requests the next High Representative to commit him/herself to informing Parliament's Committees on Foreign Affairs and Development about his/her appointments to senior posts in the EEAS and to agreeing to the committee conducting hearings with the nominees, if the committee so decides; also requests that the next High Representative commit him/herself to renegotiating the current interinstitutional agreement with the European Parliament, in particular on access to sensitive information and other issues relevant for smooth interinstitutional cooperation;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 6 6. While the European Union delegations will be an integral part of the EEAS, and while they should take their instructions from and be subject to the supervision of the High Representative and should administratively belong to the Commission, requests the next High Representative to commit him/herself to informing Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and Parliament's Committee on Development about his/her appointments to senior posts in the EEAS and to agreeing to the committee conducting hearings with the nominees, if the committee so decides; also requests that the next High Representative commit him/herself to renegotiating the current interinstitutional agreement with the European Parliament, in particular on access to sensitive information and other issues relevant for smooth interinstitutional cooperation;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Notes that
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Notes that, while the EU delegations in third countries will complement existing diplomatic representations of the Member States, there will be possibilities for long- term gains in efficiency, as the future EU delegation could
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Notes that, while the EU delegations in third countries will complement existing diplomatic representations of the Member States, there will be possibilities for long- term gains in efficiency, as the future EU delegation could
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Notes that, while the EU delegations in third countries will complement existing diplomatic representations of the Member States, there will be possibilities for long- term gains in efficiency, as the future EU delegation could in many cases, and especially in the absence of national representations, take over consular services and deal with Schengen visa issues;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 7. Notes that, while the EU delegations in third countries will complement existing diplomatic representations of the Member States, there will be possibilities for long- term gains in efficiency, as the future EU delegation could in many cases take over consular services and deal with Schengen visa issues where this is agreed to by the Member States;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Stresses that establishing robust and effective EU delegations in the countries included in the European Neighbourhood Policy, and in particular in the European ones, should constitute a priority of the future EEAS, in order to enable the EU to further develop and strengthen its privileged relations with those countries;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls on the
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls on the Commission, the Council, the Member States and the next High Representative to clearly commit themselves to a comprehensive and ambitious plan for the setting-up of the EEAS
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 8. Calls on the Commission, the Council, the Member States and the next High Representative to clearly commit themselves to a comprehensive and ambitious plan for the setting-up of the EEAS, as a gradual and step-by-step approach could lead to inconsistencies and waste of resources; stresses the need to ensure that funding is adequate and consistent with the tasks assigned to the EEAS;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Recommends the launch of a process of streamlining existing EU representations at multilateral fora such as the Council and Commission offices at the United Nations; suggests that the possibility be examined of setting up EU delegations at multilateral fora where no such delegation currently exists and where there is a practical need for an EU presence, such as at NATO and the OSCE;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 9. Reiterates its determination to exercise its budgetary powers to the full in connection with these institutional innovations and calls for financial revision before the new budgetary term; emphasises that all aspects of the funding arrangements for the EEAS must remain under the supervision of the budgetary authority in accordance with the Treaties.
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Calls on the Commission, the Council, the Member States and the next High Representative to consider the strategic importance of European world languages as a fundamental part of Europe's public diplomacy, especially when establishing the linguistic rules by which the EEAS is to operate.
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Underlines the fact that the European Parliament has consistently called for the creation of a common European diplomatic service, which would be commensurate with the Union's international role,
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Points out that the principle of gender equality requires that the equal representation of women and men in public life be also observed in the nomination procedure for the most important political posts of the European Union, such as the nomination of the permanent President of the European Council and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Taking into account the fact that the European Parliament will be consulted on the setting-up of the EEAS, and given the budgetary consequences, believes that an early and substantive dialogue with Parliament is essential for the effective start-up of the EEAS and to ensure that it receives the necessary financial resources from the Community budget in line with all the requisite agreements, so as to ensure that the EEAS is able to operate financially as a sui generis body;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Recalls that the mandate and responsibilities, as well as the resources, both human and material, of the EEAS must be clearly defined and financed under codecision with the European Parliament;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Takes the view that the budget of the EEAS should be included systematically in the multiannual financial framework and that it should be shaped by taking into account the medium and long term priorities of the EU's external action;
source: PE-429.630
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