EU parliament vote paves way for EEAS to finally start work

By Martin Banks - 8th July 2010

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MEPs have given the green light for the EU's new diplomatic corps to become operational.

It comes after parliament on Thursday approved a compromise deal to create the European External Action Service (EAS), which is headed by high representative for foreign and security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

MEPs voted by 549 in favour of the deal with 78 against. Deputies said the deal was agreed only after they won "important" concessions.

According to the agreement, paliament gets a say over EU funds for third countries, and can control the budget of the EAS.

Reacting to the vote, German EPP member Elmar Brok said, "The EAS will be fully subject to parliament's budgetary and budgetary control rights, for both operational as well as administrative funds."

In addition, 60 per cent of staff must be European officials.

Brok said, "This reflects the community method", he underlined. Parliament can also exert political control over the EU's foreign and security policy.

"Parliament obtained the right to hear EU ambassadors after they are appointed and before they take up their post. In addition, should Ashton be unable to attend a plenary session herself, she will be replaced by a commissioner or national foreign minister."

Before the EAS will be able to function fully, parliament will have to vote on its budget as well as change the staff and financial regulations.

"In exerting these co-decision powers parliament has the last word over the EAS", Brok said.

Greens MEP Franziska Brantner said, "Parliament's approval paves the way for a more coherent and effective European foreign policy that better meets citizen's expectations.

"A better service could have been possible, though. We regret that Ashton, the commission and a number of national governments didn't have the guts to embrace a more ambitious solution.

"We support the compromise because parliament managed to considerable improve Ashton's original proposal.

"A strong human rights structure, safeguards for development policy and against renationalisation of EU policies, strengthened democratic scrutiny, a more transparent foreign affairs budget and gender balance in recruitment are cases in point."

"The deal is not flawless, however. Its weak points include the unclearly defined crisis management structures, the lack of permanent deputies for Ashton and the limited scope of the EAS's consular services to citizens."

UKIP MEP David Campbell Bannerman said that attempts by the new service to "gain control over military actions runs the risk of costing the lives of British troops."

Campbell Bannerman said that "just two months ago, General Sir John McColl, addressing parliament's defence committee, had said that political interference by the EU in peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia could cost the lives of troops."

Campbell Bannerman said, "There is a real danger of lives being lost because of political interference in military operations, and this has been confirmed by a senior British general.

"Baroness Ashton, whose military experience is limited to picketing Greenham Common, has neither the experience nor the knowledge to interfere in such operations.