A DEAL between EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and the European Commission on the structure of the union’s new diplomatic corps ran into immediate trouble when each of the main political groups in the European Parliament rejected the plan as “unacceptable”.
The dismissal of her plans by the centre-right, Socialist, Liberal and Green parliamentary groups signals tough negotiations ahead over the budget of the European External Action Service (EAS) and its staff regulations. The parliament’s agreement on these key issues is required in a co-decision process with EU governments and Ms Ashton.
In a rare joint statement, the political groups said the accountability of the EAS to parliament was not addressed in the blueprint, and they took issue with an “artificial separation” of development responsibilities between the EAS and the commission. They also said the plan did not provide for “politically legitimised deputies” to serve under Ms Ashton.
“The proposal needs decisive changes, otherwise the European Parliament will not be able to carry forward the required modifications of the staff and financial regulation.”
Ms Ashton’s plan transfers significant powers from the commission, including the power to determine where the union’s multibillion-euro development budget is spent and the strategic priorities of the union’s development programme. However, the relevant EU commissioners would still have a say over “any proposals” for changes to the development and neighbourhood funds.
A senior aide, Lutz Guellner, is leaving Baroness Ashton’s team for professional reasons.