The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the diplomatic service in charge of executing all international relations of the European Union (EU). The EEAS is led by the vice-president of the European Commission for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP), who is also President of the Foreign Affairs Council, and carries out the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
The EEAS does not propose or implement policy in its own name, but prepares acts to be adopted by the High Representative, the European Commission or the Council. The EEAS is also in charge of EU diplomatic missions (delegations)Art. 5 of COUNCIL DECISION establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (PDF), Council of the European Union, 20 July 2010 and intelligence and crisis management structures.
The EEAS, as well as the office of the HR, was initiated following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009. It was formally established on 1 December 2010.Rettman, Andrew (2 December 2010). "Ashton names EU foreign-service priorities at low-key launch event", EU Observer. The EEAS was formed by merger of the external relations departments of the European Commission and of the Council, which were joined by staff seconded from national diplomatic services of the Member States. Although it supports both the commission and the council, the EEAS is independent from them and has its own staff, as well as a separate section in the EU budget.
The EEAS and the European Defence Agency (EDA) together form the Secretariat of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the structural integration pursued by 26 of the 27 national armed forces of the EU since 2017.
History
The EEAS was first included in the original European Constitution, a single EU external relations department was seen as necessary to support the proposed single HR post; as Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform, says it would "...be like having a conductor without an orchestra—or rather, a conductor trying to conduct two separate orchestras at the same time." Following the rejection of the Constitution, the changes were revived in the Treaty of Lisbon which came into force in 2009.
The mandate for the External Action Service is laid down under article 13a-III of the Treaty of Lisbon (TEU Article 27), and states the following:
Shortly before the treaty came into force, Catherine Ashton was named HR and tasked with drawing up the structure of the new EEAS. Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake Ashton chaired a meeting of the foreign policy actors across the Commission, Council and member states to give a coordinated response to the disaster. Although she refused to describe it as the first act of the external action service, Ashton did stress that it was the first time that such a co-ordination between all the various EU foreign policy actors had been accomplished before.Rettman, Andrew (14 January 2009). "EU foreign relations chief tests new powers in earthquake response", EU Observer.
Throughout the first half of 2010 Ashton fought for agreement between the Council, Parliament and the Commission as to the future shape of the EEAS. The Commission wanted to retain as many of its existing competencies (trade, development, enlargement, representations and so forth) as possible while Parliament fought to gain as much oversight over the EEAS as possible by demanding scrutiny of appointments and budgets. Parliament removed the last hurdle to the plan on 8 July, when MEPs approved the service by 549 votes for and 78 against with 17 abstentions. The Council approved the transfer of departments to the EEAS on 20 July. Until the EEAS became operational, Ashton was only supported by around 30 people on a floor of the Berlaymont building.Rettman, Andrew (8 July 2010) EU takes 'historic' step on new diplomatic service, EU Observer The EEAS was formally launched at the Commission headquarters in a low key event on 1 December 2010.
Organisation For organisation of the executive offices, see Senior posts below.
The EEAS manages general foreign relations, security and defence policies and controls the Situation Centre (see intelligence below). However, although the HR and the EEAS can prepare initiatives, member states make the final policy decisions and the commission also plays a part in technical implementation. The HR must report to the European Parliament.Rettman, Andrew (23 October 2009) EU states envisage new foreign policy giant, EU Observer The EEAS would have desks dedicated to all the countries and regional organisations in the world, and specialised units for democracy, human rights and defence.Rettman, Andrew (1 March 2010) Germany attacks UK over EU diplomatic service, EU Observer
The EEAS has six geographical departments headed by a managing director. The departments divide the world into: 1) Africa, 2) Asia, 3) Americas, 4) the Middle East and Southern Neighbourhood, 5) Russia, the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans and 6) Global and Multilateral Affairs.EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE Provisional organisational chart, EEAS Geographic desks are not duplicated in the commission.Mahony, Honor (22 June 2010) Details emerge on final set-up of EU diplomatic corps, EU Observer The EEAS also includes departments for security, strategic policy planning, legal affairs, inter-institutional relations, information and public diplomacy, internal audit and inspections, and personal data protection.
Departments transferred Parts of the following departments have been transferred from the commission or Council to the External Action Service:COUNCIL DECISION establishing the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service PDF, Council of the European Union, 20 July 2010 the Policy Unit (Council), Directorate-General E (Council), Officials of the General Secretariat of the council on secondment to European Union Special Representatives and ESDP missions Directorate-General for External Relations (Commission), External Service (CommissionDelegations), Directorate-General for Development (Commission).
Staff Staff is drawn from the Commission and Council and from the member states' diplomatic services, seconded temporarily. The HR appoints his or her own staff directly. There were no national quotas for the initial 1,100 staff members and a minimum of 33% was to be from member states. The rest are permanent officials drawn from the European Commission and the Secretariat General of the Council of the European Union. This is in part due to the need to establish a common diplomatic culture, which is also what has prompted calls for a European Diplomatic Academy.Rettman, Andrew (4 June 2010) EU ponders creation of new diplomatic breed, EU Observer
On 1 January 2011 the first staff were permanently transferred to the EEAS: 585 from the Commissions External Relations DG (which ceased to exist), 93 from the Commissions Development DG (the remainder of which merged into Development Cooperation DG), 436 from the Commission delegations and 411 from the Council of the European Union. These joined with 118 new posts to create a staff of 1,643 on the day of transfer.A new step in the setting-up of the EEAS: Transfer of staff on 1 January 2011, Council of the European Union 21 December 2010
Senior posts The day-to-day administration of the EEAS is handled by its Secretary-General. In June 2026, High Representative Kaja Kallas appointed former Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren to the post, replacing Belén Martínez Carbonell.
Below the Secretary-General there are two deputy Secretaries-General. One of the deputy secretaries-general deals with administrative matters (such as co-ordination and co-operation with the commission) while the other assists with foreign policy formulation.Rettman, Andrew (11 March 2010) France and Germany eye top job in EU diplomatic corps, EU ObserverRettman, Andrew (29 October 2010) German and Pole join roll-call of Ashton lieutenants, EU Observer On 28 July 2015 it was announced that as from mid-September 2015, the Secretary General will be assisted by a third Deputy Secretary-General, in charge of Economic and Global Issues. However under the final agreed plans the HR would be deputised by a relevant European Commissioner or the foreign minister holding the rotating council presidency.
The Secretary-General will also oversee the autonomous cells such as the Situation Centre (see intelligence below), the military staff, an internal security unit, audit unit and a unit for communications and relations with other EU institutions. The chief operating officer deals with the budget and administration and six managing directors each manage a department (see organisation). The following are the current office holders;Organigramme, European External Action Service, April 2020
Post Office-holder StateSecretary-General and Deputies Secretary-General Kajsa Ollongren Netherlandsacting Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Global IssuesOlivier BaillyFranceDeputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, Political DirectorOlof SkoogSweden Deputy Secretary-General for CSDP and Crisis Response Charles Fries FranceManaging Directors and Directors General Managing Director for Africa Rita Laranjinha Portugal Managing Director for Americas Brian Glynn Ireland Managing Director for Asia and Pacific Niclas Kvarnström SwedenManaging Director for Eastern Europe and Central AsiaMichael SiebertGermany Managing Director for Europe Matti Maasikas Estonia Managing Director for Middle East and Northern Africa Helene Le Gal France Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss GermanyManaging Director for Global Issues and CommunicationOlivier BaillyFrench Managing Director for Civilian Operations Headquarters Stefano Tomat ItalyDirector General European Union Military Staff Lt General Michiel van der LaanNetherlandsDirector General for Resource ManagementKristin de PeyronSweden
Delegations
The former Commission's representations abroad fall under the EEAS as EU embassies (although representing the whole of the EU under Lisbon, the commission had wanted to retain management). The delegations would also support visits from MEPs, delegation heads would have hearings in Parliament (though no veto) and they are at the disposal of Parliament for questions concerning the country they dealt with. There are EU delegations in nearly every UN member stateExternal Service – delegations' websites , Europa.eu website and each head of delegation is the EU ambassador (appointed by the High Representative).
On 1 January 2010 all former European Commission delegations were renamed European Union delegations and were gradually upgraded into embassy-type missions that employ greater powers than the regular delegations. These upgraded delegations have taken on the role previously carried out by the national embassies of the member state holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union and merged with the independent Council delegations around the world. Through this the EU delegations take on the role of co-ordinating national embassies and speaking for the EU as a whole, not just the commission.