540 Revista del Instituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos Núm. 2 / 2013 the Union’s action on the international scene and its aims. It refers to the prevention of conflicts, streamlining trade and sustainable development, acting in accordance with the values of democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. Nevertheless, the Lisbon Treaty maintains the specific norms and procedures pertaining to the CFSP and the CSDP9, which means that unanimity continues to be the rule for the adoption of decisions in this field. Even though the Treaty envisages formulas of flexibility such as enhanced cooperation, permanent structured cooperation and constructive absten-tion (article 31 TEU), these are theoretical possibilities in relation to which the EU and the Member States continue to demonstrate their reticence in practice. Overall the most relevant change that the Lisbon Treaty introduces in terms of foreign policy is the creation of the EEAS as an independently functioning body charged with assisting the High Representative of the EU10 who, subsequent to the Treaty, in addition to the competencies of his predecessor in previous versions of the treaties, takes on the majority of those corresponding to the Commissioner for Foreign Relations and the external functions of the country in the role of rotating presidency of the Council (article18 TEU). The High Representative, originally designated in the draft of the constitutional Treaty as European Minister of Foreign Affairs11, is thus designated as the institutional link between the Council and the Commission in matters of European foreign policy. The European External Actions Service constitutes, both in its composition and organisation, the best reflection of this search for coherence in EU foreign policy. It unifies the services of foreign relations and policy respectively –formerly separated into Commission and Council - and places them under the aegis of the new High Representative . Undoubtedly, a positive internal aspect of the EU’s external action is the staff members’ identification with the service, despite their different origins. Juncos and Pomorska explain this attitude on the basis of material calculations and psychological 9 In accordance with Title V, article 24, the limited role of the Commission and the European Parliament is maintained, as well as the traditional exclusion of the Court of Justice from practically all decisions adopted in the fields of CFSP and CSPD. See Antonio MISSIROLI, “The New EU Foreign Policy System after Lisbon: A Work in Progress”, European Foreign Affairs Review, 15, 2010, pp.427-452; VAN ELSUWEGE Peter and Hans MERKET, “The Role of the Court of Justice in ensuring the Unity of the EU’s External Representation” in S. Blockmans and R. A. Wessel (eds.), Principles and practices of EU external representation: Selected legal aspects, The Hague, CLEER Working Papers 2012/4. 10 Throughout this work we shall use the term “High Representative” in the masculine gender as a generic denomination of the institution, despite the fact that the incumbent HR is a woman. 11 BROK, Elmar. European Convention, Working Group VII, working document 26, 4781, “The External Representation of the European Union”, and BROK, Elmar, VAN DER LINDEN, René, CUSHANAHAN, John, LAMASSOURE, Alain. working document 46, 5331.
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