By Martin Banks - 7th July 2010
Ashton has brokered the best possible deal
Richard Howitt
MEPs will vote on Thursday on the scope and scale of the European external action service (EAS), the EU's new diplomatic service.
After debating the new service in Strasbourg on Wednesday, deputies are now expected to fully endorse the EAS.
Parliamentary approval of the service will come more than six months after the EU's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton was first appointed and paves the way for the service to become operational by the autumn.
UK Tory Charles Tannock, who initially questioned Ashton's suitability for the role, gave grudging acceptance of the new service, saying, "We were opposed to the creation of the EAS but we are now reconciled to engaging constructively within the new architecture in the best interests of our countries.
"I pay credit to Ashton whose administrative skills and consensual approach have earned her considerable credit.
"I would have liked a greater emphasis on a government led approach, and a merit-based selection that also allows for fair geographical balance across the EU and some political appointees.
"I welcome the proposed incorporation of the commission geographical desks for strategic thinking on development and aid policy-making into the service.
"The modest increase in powers for parliament such as informal confirmation hearings for senior appointees, and the emphasis on budgetary scrutiny will further increase democratic oversight of the service.
"I hope that national MPs will be closely involved from the start in scrutinising the EEAS. This is especially important from the point of view of the military Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, which are funded from national budgets."
British S&D member Richard Howitt, a close ally of Ashton, said the expected parliamentary agreement will be "welcomed as a defeat for those seeking to preserve bureaucratic empires in Brussels."
He warned that failure to agree further technical changes to staffing and financial rules by October at the latest could result in "unnecessary delays, with potential staff put through the recruitment process but unable to be appointed to the new jobs."
Speaking ahead of Thursday's vote, he said, "This is a defeat for those vested interests from governments, the commission and from parliament itself - too many of whom were more interested in preserving their own empires at the expense of creating an effective new external service which properly reflects the spirit of the Lisbon treaty and gives Ashton the tools for the job.
"There is no excuse for further evasion or delay in agreeing the additional changes needed to technical rules on staff and finance, where parliament's responsibilities are clear and the hard-won compromise must be respected.
"We will still be in a situation where the first anniversary of Cathy's appointment will be approaching and the service she has been asked to lead will only just have been created.
"Any further delay could see new staff interviewed but applicants sitting by their letter boxes waiting for letters of appointment that can't be posted until the further changes are finalised.
"Ashton has brokered the best possible deal to create an ambitious and inclusive service which genuinely brings together all of the EU's outward facing activities to produce a combined strong voice for Europe in the world.
"Parliament should speak clearly in favour of the agreement or it is Europe which will lose its voice."
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