The establishment of a common EU ”foreign ministry”, the European External Action Service (EEAS), was one of the main innovations of the Lisbon Treaty. One year since the creation of the EEAS, it is time to assess its first achievements and identify the challenges ahead. The ways in which the member states adapt to this new actor will be particularly important in determining the EEAS’ future. Will the new structures lead to further foreign and security policy integration, or is the recent trend of ”re-nationalisation” likely to persist? What is the impact of the economic crisis; does it push the member states closer together in global affairs? Would a new EU security strategy help to make the most of the EEAS’ potential?
Speakers:
Richard Whitman, Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent
Alfredo Conte, Head of Strategic Planning Division, European External Action Service
Hanna Ojanen, Researcher, The Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Elfriede Regelsberger, Deputy Director, Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP)
Tarja Fernández, Head of Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Chair: Teija Tiilikainen, Director, The Finnish Institute of International Affairs
The seminar will be held under the Chatham House rule.