a decade of European External Action Service

As time went on, the EDEO grew rapidly and grew rapidly … even in difficult times, the worldwide connection through its network of delegations and partners around the world was tremendous … and here we are now marking its 10th anniversary!

To mark this milestone, the EEAS will be dressed in a new commemorative logo, and on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, a series of events will begin, starting with ‘The EU in a changing world – Staying on course in difficult waters’, an online debate under EU High Representative Josep Borrell and his predecessors Federica Mogherini and Javier Solana.

Born out of the Lisbon Treaty, which was signed in 2007 and entered into force at the end of 2009, the European External Action Service was formally launched on 1 January 2011, the date on which it is officially commemorated.

The Treaty of Lisbon set out the way in which the service would be created:

“The organization and functioning of the European External Action Service shall be determined by a decision of the Council. The Council shall act on a proposal from the High Representative after consulting the European Parliament and after obtaining the consent of the Commission.”

The importance of the EEAS was also clear:

“It will help strengthen the European Union on the world stage, give it more profile and enable it to project its interests and values ​​more effectively.”

The role of ‘High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy’ was created by the Treaty of Amsterdam, which entered into force in 1999. A decade later, the Treaty of Lisbon expanded the role and added new responsibilities. Ever since called ‘the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy’, the post has also been extended to the role of ‘Vice-President of the Commission’.

Josep Borrell Fontelles

Josep Borrell Fontelles from Spain has been taking on the role of High Representative of the EU / Vice President (HR / VP) since 1 December 2019. As the EU’s chief diplomat, Borell is tasked with shaping and implementing the EU’s foreign and security policy – known as the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP).

His predecessors were:

Federica Mogherini

2014-2019: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission. Italy’s Federica Mogherini was the second HR / VP to be appointed.

Catherine Ashton

2009-2014: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission. The role was created under the Treaty of Lisbon and Catherine Ashton of the United Kingdom was the first HR / VP to be appointed under the new Treaty.

Javier Solana

1999-2009: High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union. The role was created under the Treaty of Amsterdam and the Spanish Javier Solana was appointed to this post by the European Council.

Ten years later, during a year of global crisis, three of these four high-ranking representatives will reunite in an online discussion: “The EU in a changing world – staying on course in difficult waters.” The leading topics of this discussion are the EU, which is prepared to speak ‘the language of power’, to work with others but only if necessary, and the role of the EU as a mediator in international conflicts.

How has the European Union’s foreign policy developed in recent years?

What were the key achievements?

What are the biggest opportunities and the biggest challenges for the EU in a rapidly changing landscape?

Online debate – 01: 12: 2020 – Save the date and follow live: here

Source:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *