543 Natividad Fernández Sola The proposed reform of the european external actions service and its implications for the european union‘s security policy For these reasons, and despite the existence of progress reports pointing to the beneficial effects of the existence of the EEAS on the EU’s external activities22, it has also been recognised that certain reforms introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in the area of EU external activity have not only not contributed to improving their management and efficacy, but to a certain extent have constituted a step backwards.23 In the view of M. E. Smith, the negative effects of the rulings of the Lisbon Treaty are due to factors relating to the structure of the institutional apparatus which oversees European foreign policy. One of these would be the failure of the Lisbon Treaty to effectively reorganise the broad framework of the EU’s foreign policy giving scope to the EEAS as a new body, but not an institution of the Union. One could say that the EEAS has had to find its own location, independent from other actors on the foreign policy stage, mainly from the Commission24. We believe that the situation of the European External Actions Service merely reflects the ambiguities that weigh upon the body it is serving, namely: the High Representative of the Union for foreign policy who, as we 22 See annual reports of the European External Actions Service (EEAS, Report by the High Representative to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, 22.12.2011). A formal and positive review in Alberto PRIEGO MORENO, “Presente y futuro de la acción exterior of la EU”, Documento marco 10/2013, IEEE, Madrid 23 This is despite the existence of various provisions in the Lisbon Treaty that tend to bu-ffer these possible risks by establishing common principles governing EU external activities or strategic interests. According to article 21.3, “The Union shall respect the principles and pur-sue the objectives set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 in the development and implementation of the different areas of the Union’s external action covered by this Title and by Part Five of the Trea-ty on the Functioning of the European Union, and of the external aspects of its other policies. The Union shall ensure consistency between the different areas of its external action and between the-se and its other policies. The Council and the Commission, assisted by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, shall ensure that consistency and shall cooperate to that effect.”. Article 26, for its part , “1. The European Council shall identify the Union’s strategic interests, determine the objectives of and define general guidelines for the common foreign and security policy, including for matters with defence implications. It shall adopt the necessary decisions … 2. The Council shall frame the common foreign and security policy and take the decisions necessary for defining and implementing it on the basis of the general guidelines and strategic lines defined by the European Council. The Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall ensure the unity, consistency and effectiveness of action by the Union. 3. The common foreign and security policy shall be put into effect by the High Representative and by the Member States, using national and Union resources. 24 SMITH, Michael E., “The European External Action Service and the Security-Development Nexus…”, op. cit., HEMRA, Staffan, RAINES, Thomas, WHITMAN, Richard, A Diplomatic Entrepreneur: making the most of the European External Action service. A Chatham House Report, London, Chatham House, 2011. These authors affirm that, in search of a systematic determination of his role, the High Representative has not found a modus operandi that is satisfactory for all those involved in EU external activities, while at the same time providing coherence in an effective European foreign policy.
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