The European External Action Service

The service supporting the foreign and external policy of the European Union will start soon. (The target date is 1 December 2010) It will be called European External Action Service (EEAS). Many Norwegians ask me the question: will the EEAS be the foreign ministry of the EU? Usually there is no short and/or simple answer to similar questions, because EU moves are by nature complex or for the reason that they are novel. Most frequently they are both at the same time. (Therefore not the best topics for short blogs)

The EEAS is a prime example. It is groundbreaking; nothing alike has existed before. Preparations were difficult and took a long time. EEAS staff will come from two EU institutions (the Commission and the Council) as well as from the diplomatic services of the 27 Member States. They will work under the High Representative of the EU, who at the same time is also Vice President of the European Commission. The 135 EU Delegations around the world (including the one in Oslo) will be part and parcel of the new service. The EEAS is designed to become a tool to establish better the EU as a global player both in its immediate neighbourhood and in faraway regions.

The effort is the first in its kind and it is obviously a fascinating story to follow. But the jury is out, it will be judged by its performance and you might have your own opinion on this.