How much weight do the EU's words and deeds carry in the world of international diplomacy? EPTV examines what, if anything, the External Action Service has changed.

﻿Reporter: EU diplomacy in the EEAS era

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16007365/M003-0203-EN.srt

What is the EU's diplomatic influence  in the world?

Has the creation of a new European  diplomatic service changed the situation?

EuroparlTV has spoken to several  ambassadors from other countries.

We're at the heart of the EU institutions  in Brussels.

This building houses  the EU's new diplomatic service,

are the signs of a thorough reorganisation  started 18 months ago

with new communication technologies  as work tools.

You can't set up  a European diplomatic service overnight.

If you look at what happened in our main  partners in the different Member States,

a foreign affairs ministry is usually  the result of several years,

or sometimes several centuries,  of existence and development.

With 136 ambassadors,  nearly 3,600 civil servants,

and an annual budget  of 470 million euros,

the European diplomatic service  manages foreign policy for the Union.

Its head, Catherine Ashton, shakes hands  with the greatest in the world,

But what influence  do these handshakes really have?

We've succeeded in crises such as  the one in Syria or in a country like Iran

which have impressed our partners  outside the Union.

The Russian ambassador in Brussels  isn't impressed yet.

He doesn't think  Europe speaks with a single voice.

Every time the EU makes an attempt  to speak with one voice,

Some of the positions in the EEAS  have yet to be filled.

I believe it requires some additional effort  to become that.

Then we hope it will be  an effective instrument

But since the reorganisation  of European diplomacy,

those in charge in some third countries  say they're relieved.

An important partner like Israel  now knows who to talk to.

It has certainly become easier for us  to deal with the EU institutions

in that we no longer have to deal with  three different entities

dealing with foreign policy,  the so-called European Troika.

and that has streamlined the way  we handle ourselves vis-à-vis the EU.

Last February, a summit was held  in New Delhi between India and the EU.

Catherine Ashton was present for  another handshake that was quite useful.

We consider Europe  as a strategic partner of India.

Naturally all issues  would be on the table,

It's not a national issue,  it's international.

It's a global issue  requiring global solutions.

must contribute to it  and cooperate in that regard.

But the fact is the EU doesn't have the  influence of the USA in global diplomacy.

and the influence of Member States  in diplomacy confuse the situation.

The number you have to dial to reach  Europe depends on the subject area.

you'd go to the Commission  for the technical perspective.

If it's more external policy, you would  go to Mrs Ashton and her department,

with the difficulty that  certain strong Member States

haven't wanted to reduce  their diplomatic impact.

Add to that another player,  the European Parliament.

He collaborates with international  institutions like the G20,

He watches the EU's foreign policy  closely.

and on the other hand  there's a lack of political will

among the Heads of State and  Government and the Member States

to develop the European Union  into a United States of Europe.

A global evaluation of the European  diplomatic service will take place in 2013.

In the meantime, Catherine Ashton will  get to shake many more hands.

﻿Reporter: EU diplomacy in the EEAS era

Reporter: EU diplomacy in the EEAS era