The EU delegations have been often characterised as a success story of the European External Action Service, bringing important value-added to both the EU institutions and member states. Now that the EEAS is about to complete its build-up phase and is looking forward to the next, fully operational stage, under new leadership, it is time to look at the lessons learned during its early years. Looking in particular at experiences from Washington and Moscow, what can be said about the performance and potential of the delegations in contributing to a common EU foreign policy? How to further develop the EU’s ‘diplomatic infrastructure’ in today’s turbulent international context where the Ukraine crisis has created a new sense of urgency for a united, global EU presence? The discussion will be held in conjunction with the publication of a FIIA Analysis ‘Pioneers of a European Diplomatic System: EU Delegations in Moscow and Washington’ by Heidi Maurer and Kristi Raik.
Speakers:
David O’Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, European External Action Service
Kristi Raik, Senior Researcher, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Heidi Maurer, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Maastricht
Rosa Balfour, Head of the Europe in the World Programme, European Policy Centre
The event is organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC) and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
For further information, please, contact Kristi Raik.