It is now time for the much-discussed Lisbon Treaty to begin to take effect. From Tuesday 1 December, Catherine Ashton will be the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. As such, she will be responsible for coordinating all parts of the European Union’s foreign policy and presenting the views of the EU to other countries, in international organisations and at international conferences.

Nonetheless, it would be misleading to call Baroness Ashton the EU’s foreign minister. The policies pursued towards third countries and in international cooperation will still be the result of an extensive process of coordination between the 27 Member States. Nor is there any question of majority decisions on foreign policy. Unanimity is required.

“The EU gives Europe a louder voice in the world than we would have had as individual countries, no doubt about it,” observes Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt. “Twenty-seven countries add up to a considerable voice in world politics.

“Furthermore, we are now making the EU stronger by building better institutions for dealing with foreign policy, both locally in countries around the world and in Brussels. This also gives Europe increased weight.”

Foreign Affairs Council

One of the strengths of the new Treaty is that foreign policy will be coordinated at the meetings of foreign ministers under a single permanent chair, Catherine Ashton, who also holds the position of Vice-President of the European Commission. She will lead the monthly meetings of the FAC (Foreign Affairs Council), which replaces the foreign policy part of the GAERC (General Affairs and External Relations Council), which has decided on foreign policy until now.

The other part of the GAERC agenda will be taken over by the GAC (General Affairs Council), which will be a forum for the EU ministers of the Member States.

The main responsibility for trade, enlargement and development issues will remain with the Commission.

One of Baroness Ashton’s most important tasks at the beginning of her period in office will be to take over leadership of the process of establishing the new European External Action Service (EEAS).

As previously decided, the EEAS will consist of staff at the Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council who have worked on foreign policy together with the EU delegations around the world that now represent the European Commission but in future will represent the EU in its entirety. A third of the positions in the EEAS are to be filled with staff recruited from the national government administrations of the Member States.

Around 500 to 700 officials will work on foreign policy in Brussels under the leadership of Baroness Ashton. The aim is for the Council – i.e., the EU Heads of Government – to be able to take a decision on the newly organised External Action Service in April 2010.
 

Different role for the Presidency

The rotating presidency will therefore not have the same role in the foreign policy area that it has had until now. At present, during the Swedish Presidency, in every country where there is a Swedish embassy, the joint work of the EU is led by that embassy. With the Treaty in full effect, the work of the EU will instead be led by the local EU delegation. Naturally, this also means greater continuity.

These changes will not happen from one day to the next. Only a few weeks have passed since the implementation of the Treaty received the go-ahead. The Swedish Presidency will continue for the rest of the year but is aiming clearly to begin the transition to the new order and will seek coordination with the EU delegations in various representations made by the Presidency. The final transition to the delegations will either take place gradually during 2010, according to the situation in each country, or else at a single time for the whole system in common.

Which model is chosen will be decided in December.