It has long been the EU’s ambition to speak with one voice in foreign affairs. Now a high representative for foreign affairs is to be appointed, with more influence and responsibility than previously. At the informal summit on Thursday evening it could be decided who gets the job.

The Treaty of Lisbon – the new regulatory framework for the EU that will enter into force shortly – will introduce a number of important posts that will affect EU politics in the future; including a permanent President of the European Council and a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The High Representative must commence his or her work as soon as the Lisbon Treaty comes into force, which will be on 1 December this year. The High Representative will lead the EU’s work on foreign affairs and will also chair the Council when the EU’s foreign ministers meet. In addition, he or she will be Vice-President of the European Commission and have a portfolio similar to that of a foreign minister.

The High Representative will make proposals in the area of foreign affairs and security policy, on which the Member States will then take decisions. For example, this could include conflict prevention or peacekeeping initiatives in countries outside the Union, or negotiation of international agreements within foreign affairs. Those EU Member States which sit in the UN Security Council will also make it possible for the High Representative to present the EU’s positions there.

Posts remodelled
In practice, this means that the current role of the Council Secretary-General, Javier Solana, as the EU High Representative, will be remodelled to become two posts; one as the new High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and one as a new Secretary-General of the Council Secretariat. When the EU heads of state and government meet on Thursday evening, it is hoped that agreement will be reached on who should get the three new positions – the permanent President, the High Representative and the Secretary-General. After that, the European Commission will give its approval to the candidate for the post of High Representative. The European Parliament will then decide its position on the High Representative in connection with its approval of the members of the Commission as a whole.

External Action Service created
The High Representative will be assisted by a newly established foreign affairs service, resembling an EU ministry of foreign affairs, known as the European External Action Service (EEAS). This will work together with the Member States’ ministries for foreign affairs and comprise staff from the Commission, the Council Secretariat and the Member States.