549 Natividad Fernández Sola The proposed reform of the european external actions service and its implications for the european union‘s security policy bodies, not always in communication with one another. To this effect we shall merely mention the examples of Kosovo and transatlantic relations. In Kosovo, it has been recommended that the Atlantic Alliance operation (KFOR) be substituted by an EU operation that would highlight the Union’s adoption of responsibilities in its neigh-bourhood. This recommendation, put forward by Germany, Italy, France and Poland, requires going beyond crisis management structures and involves taking into account relationships with NATO as well as contacts with the US Department of Defence and high-ranking US officials. Equally, one would have to consider the upcoming expiry date for the EU EULEX Kosovo mission’s mandate in June 201440. If we limit ourselves to mentioning the main bodies, such action would require joint planning and implementation on behalf of the Political and Security Committee (PCS), the Crisis Management and Planning Directorate (CMPD), the Military Staff (EUMS), as well as the Direction for Europe and Central Asia through its Direction of Western Balkan Countries and the Direction for America through its Direction for the United States and Canada and the service for Foreign Policy Instruments, all of the afore-mentioned in collaboration with the Special Representative for the Balkans and the Commission to ensure a global approach. The need for a comprehensive approach, in this case including trade as well as security issues, can be appreciated in the newly formed Transatlantic Trade and Investments Partnership (TTIP). This is not only a commercial question regarding the competence of the services of the Commission, in which issues of lifting restrictions, free trade and relations with the World Trade Organisation and other trade partners come into play. Security and defence have the potential to play a role in this arena41 where the style of links between the defence allies is determined. Without entering into the importance and complexity of the trade sanctions that arms embargos decree, given that the Commission is looking for markets for the EU’s defence industries, while the European Defence Agency is promoting the strength of the industry, it would be difficult to deny a certain role for the EU Delegations in achieving this, in this particular instance in Washington. Thus a comprehensive approach with the participation of these European players should prevail. The question of the CSDP structures, their direct relationship with the High Representative, their configuration and relationship with the rest of the EEAS needs further analysis within the reform of the EEAS. The result should be endorsed by the European Council. Part of the equation is the well-known problem of the establishment of a permanent capacity for the planning and implementation of EU civilian and 40 9 July 2013 the North Atlantic Council declared the full operational capability of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) whose mission is to conduct civil protection operations and to assist the civil authorities in responding to natural disasters and other emergencies. http://www.aco.nato.int/kfor/ news-room/press-releases/full-operational-capability-declared-for-kosovo-security-force.aspx 41 See EEAS, Deputy Secretary General, Note to the Attention of the HR/VP… cit.
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