Joint Decision on cooperation mechanisms concerning the management of Delegations of the European Union

The EU's new institutional set-up in the external relations area, established in accordance with the Treaty of Lisbon, calls for Commission Services and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to cooperate closely.

With the establishment of the EEAS, the former Directorate-General for External Relations and the former Unified External Service, with its network of Delegations, ceased to exist. Commission Delegations became Union Delegations placed under the authority of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Staff in Delegations comprises EEAS staff and, where appropriate for the implementation of the Union budget and Union policies other than those under the remit of the EEAS, Commission staff. The presence of Commission staff in Delegations means that specific arrangements are needed between the EEAS and the Commission Services. Such arrangements should ensure a coherent management of all staff in Delegations.

The aim of this Decision is to set up collaborative arrangements between the EEAS and the Commission Services for the management of Delegations.