Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 June 2013
15. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the European External Action Service is effective in its mandate as the European Union's diplomatic corps; his views on the European Parliament’s report that criticises the EEAS over its management structure and appointment system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30798/13]
View answerThe European External Action Service (EEAS), established by Council Decision in 2010, is the European Union’s diplomatic service which has been created to support the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). At present, it numbers some 3400 staff, spread between the Brussels Headquarters and 141 EU Delegations throughout the world. Under the leadership of the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, the EEAS has achieved much during its first two and a half years in operation. From a CFSP perspective, this period has been a very busy one, and the Foreign Affairs Council, which HR Ashton chairs, has taken important decisions in relation to major foreign policy issues, not least the crisis in Syria, the nuclear issue in Iran and various African conflict situations. There have been significant breakthroughs in areas such as the Belgrade/Pristina dialogue and important developments also on policy issues such as the ‘comprehensive approach’ to crisis management. Operationally, good progress has also been made in meeting the challenge of establishing a new institution, which comprises staff from the EU Commission, the General Secretariat of the Council and national diplomats seconded from the Member States.
As a new institution however, the EEAS is very much a work in progress. The 2010 Council Decision included a specification that HR Ashton would prepare a Review of the “organisation and functioning” of the Service by mid-2013. This is an important process, which provides an opportunity to take stock of progress achieved to date and to identify those areas which might be improved. While the Review is led by the High Representative, Ireland has taken an active interest in the process, contributing to consultations at senior political and official level. Other EU member States and key interlocutors such as the European Parliament and the EU Commission have also contributed to it. The Review was the subject of discussions at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which I co-hosted with HR Ashton in Dublin Castle in March (and to which I was particularly pleased to welcome representatives from the Parliament and the Commission for that discussion).
The recently-published report from the European Parliament makes a number of recommendations across a range of areas, including in relation to management and recruitment issues. Ireland shares many of these views. We too wish to see progress towards achieving improved member State representation and gender balance within the EEAS and we welcome the advances that are being made to achieve this. Indeed, the one-third target, as set out in the original 2010 Decision, for the participation of nationals of EU member States has almost been reached and this is to be commended. Commenting on the Parliament’s report, HR Ashton concurred with many of the points made in it and congratulated the rapporteurs, Elmar Brok and Roberto Gualtieri, for their “thoughtful and balanced” contribution.
I expect that the High Representative will take account of the various contributions – including from the European Parliament and member States – in the Report which she will present in the near future. I look forward to considering her recommendations in due course.
