Strategic Panorama 2009 - 2010 - IEEE

Aníbal Villalba Fernández
Council agenda, the Member States which sit on the Security Council
shall request that the HR be invited to present the Union’s position (article
34 TEU - Lisbon).
The HR may submit proposals or initiatives on CFSP/CSDP matters
(articles 30 and 42 TEU - Lisbon). In cases requiring a rapid decision the
HR, of his own motion or at the request of a Member State, may convene
an extraordinary Council meeting within 48 hours or, in an emergency,
within a shorter period (article 30 TEU - Lisbon). Lastly, the HR shall represent
the Union for matters relating to the CFSP, conduct political dialogue
with third parties on the Union’s behalf and express the Union’s position
in international organisations and at international conferences (article 27
TEU - Lisbon).
The Treaty of Lisbon provides for the creation of a European External
Action Service (EEAS), which will assist the HR in fulfilling his mandate.
This service shall work in cooperation with the diplomatic services of the
Member States and shall comprise officials from the General Secretariat of
the Council and of the Commission as well as staff seconded from national
diplomatic services.
Both the organisation and the functioning of the European External
Action Service shall be established by a decision of the Council acting
unanimously on a proposal from the HR after consulting the European
Parliament and after obtaining the consent of the Commission (article 27
TEU - Lisbon). This decision is expected to be adopted during the Spanish
Presidency of the EU, and will probably also be begun to be put into practice
during this period.
Catherine Ashton has expressed her perceptions of the new dynamic
generated by the Treaty of Lisbon and its potential for building a better
Europe that lives up to its citizens’ expectations and for helping Europe
speak with a stronger and more unified voice on the world stage.
Ashton states that the EU has a good reputation all over the world
based on strong values of freedom and democracy, the rule of law and
respect for human rights. The EU has also spoken with conviction and clarity
on the major challenges that face us, be they climate change, poverty,
conflict or terrorism. The EU is present on the ground in civilian and military
missions in four continents. The EU is the biggest provider of humanitarian
aid and a superpower economy with 500 million people. However, Ashton
remarks that the EU continues to be accused of not punching its weight
politically. Under these circumstances she reckons that her job is to make
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