During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with the Council and the Commission on the European External Action Service.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

LEWANDOWSKI, Janusz (EPP, PL)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

interinstitutional relations (T)

European External Action Service

ASHTON, Catherine (UK, EC)

CHASTEL, Olivier (Renew, BE)

European External Action Service: extracts from the debate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/18955712/ebs73400Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, The amendments have let to my view to a real improvement of the whole text. And let me high light just couple of core elements of the proposal. As you know at the starting phase the EAS will be composed to the 3 sources mentioned in the Treaty, namely the COM, Council General Secretary as well as National diplomats. And the relevant departments of the Council and of the COM will be transferred to the EAS while the existing rights working in these departments will be fully guaranteed. National diplomats will be able to apply for published vacant posts and I'm happy to say that of 1st July 2013 also officials from other institutions including the EP will be able to apply to the EAS on equal footing. Permanent officials and National diplomats will have the same rights and obligations in the EAS and the necessary provision of the staff regulations will apply to ensure that independence and loyalty to the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, The situation will be reviewed in 2013 with a report of the High Representative Vice President to be presented to the EP, the Council and the COM. And I know that some of you in this House would have wished to have stronger provisions in these proposals, where others were heavily opposed. I'm convinced that the tabled amendments to you now constitute a balanced solution. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Janusz LEWANDOWSKI, European Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget, What it is allows for a creation of secret section of a budget, it is optimal a accountability of the Heads of Delegations and allows this section of the budget, the EAS budget section, to be served by COM accounting officer and internal auditor, this is subject to a review.

SOUNDBITE (English), Catherine ASHTON, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, This has been a joint and collaborative exercise and I'm extraordinarily grateful to all of you for the work that has gone on. Most importantly I do believe we have set the foundation of this service in a way that will engage the EP properly in the future and I have already made my commitments to the transparency and the approach that I wish to take working with the EP.

SOUNDBITE (English), Catherine ASHTON, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, I know that members had been concerned that we ensure that we have proper training facilities and capacity, we do have the legal for this. And I want to reinsure the House that we will make sure that those who come from different traditions, from different sources will be brought together a truly European service that again will reflect all that have been said in the process in building up to this moment.

SOUNDBITE (French), Olivier CHASTEL, Belgian State Secretary for European Affairs, The challenges are up there with our ambitions and I'm sure that I can count on Lady Ashton to face this challenge with strength and determination and I wish her the best of success. I like to thank the EP for his commitment and its constructive approach which played a decisive role when it comes to this project.