On Juncker’s list: improving EU external action

Jean-Claude Juncker – the president-elect of the European Commission – had only a few precious weeks to decide how his future college of commissioners can deliver on the ambitious agenda he presented to the European Parliament. But before he started juggling names and portfolios, he needed to design the ‘chassis’ of what was to be the first truly post-Lisbon Commission.

After the gradual process of adaptation to the new treaty that characterised the previous legislature, this was particularly true of the Union’s foreign policy. Juncker had made explicit his determination to contribute to a more effective common external action, even in areas where the Commission had traditionally feared to tread – such as defence. This surely entailed the need for the institution as a whole to work more closely with the next HR/VP and the EEAS (and vice versa). Juncker and his transition team surely not lacked for advice and recommendations from various quarters. Nevertheless, it was useful to highlight a few issues worth adding to his checklist.

Issue Alert by Antonio Missiroli

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Website: European External Action Service http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-european-external-action-service/

ESO Information Guide: European External Action Service - EEAS http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-external-action-service/

ESO: Background information: Website: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-high-representative-of-the-union-for-foreign-affairs-and-security-policy-vice-president-of-the-commission-federica-mogherini/

ESO: Background information: Resetting EU external action: potential and constraints http://www.europeansources.info/record/resetting-eu-external-action-potential-and-constraints/

ESO: Background information: The Impact of Institutional Change on Foreign Policy-Making: The Case of the EU Horn of Africa Strategy http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-impact-of-institutional-change-on-foreign-policy-making-the-case-of-the-eu-horn-of-africa-strategy/

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