High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union
Incumbent Javier Solana since October 1999
Appointer	Council of Ministers
Term length	Undefined
Inaugural holder	Jürgen Trumpf
Formation	1999
Website	Javier Solana

The High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (HR) is the main co-ordinator of the Common Foreign and Security Policy within the European Union. The position is currently held by Javier Solana and is based in the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

The post was introduced by the Treaty of Amsterdam and its holder, together with the national Foreign Minister holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, represents the council of Foreign Ministers of the Union. The Clinton administration claimed in May 2000 that Solana was the fulfilment of Henry Kissinger's desire to have a phone number to talk to Europe (“Who do I call if I want to call Europe?” – Henry Kissinger).

The position will be superseded according to the treaty of Lisbon by a new position, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, with Lady Ashton of Upholland in office once confirmed by the European Parliament.^[1]

The Treaty on European Union, as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon, provides in Article 15(2):

The European Council shall consist of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States, together with its President and the President of the Commission. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall take part in its work.

and in Article 18:

1. The European Council, acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the President of the Commission, shall appoint the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The European Council may end his term of office by the same procedure.
2. The High Representative shall conduct the Union's common foreign and security policy. He shall contribute by his proposals to the development of that policy, which he shall carry out as mandated by the Council. The same shall apply to the common security and defence policy.
3. The High Representative shall preside over the Foreign Affairs Council.
4. The High Representative shall be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission. He shall ensure the consistency of the Union's external action. He shall be responsible within the Commission for responsibilities incumbent on it in external relations and for coordinating other aspects of the Union's external action. In exercising these responsibilities within the Commission, and only for these responsibilities, the High Representative shall be bound by Commission procedures to the extent that this is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 3.

—C 115/26 EN Official Journal of the European Union 9.5.2008

[edit] Role

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v • d • e

Where foreign policy is agreed between EU member-states the High Representative can speak for the Union in that area, such as negotiating on behalf of the member-states. The representative co-ordinates the work of the Special Representatives as well as other appointments such as anti-terrorist co-ordinator. He/She makes reports and proposals for the Council, as Secretary-General, the High Representative examines and prepares most decisions before they are presented for decision.

At its inception, it was decided that the Secretary-General of the Council would fill the position. This meant that the Secretary-General at the time, Jürgen Trumpf was the first High Representative, although he would only serve a few months. During the tenure of Javier Solana, the position was expanded rapidly, with several more functions combined into the function of High Representative for the CFSP:

• High Representative for the CFSP
  • Co-ordinating the European Security and Defence Policy
  • Responsible for the European Union Special Representatives
• Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union
• Secretary-General of the Western European Union
• President of the European Defence Agency
• Head of the proposed External Action Service

[edit] List of office holders

• Jürgen Trumpf (of Germany) – appointed by virtue of the Treaty of Amsterdam (May to October 1999)^[2]
• Javier Solana (of Spain) – Cologne European Council (incumbent since October 1999)

[edit] Lisbon Treaty

Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, which was finally ratified on 3 November 2009, the post of High Representative is merged with that of the European Commissioner for External Relations under a new title of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Parts of the media have touted the post as the "foreign minister of the European Union", reflecting what it would have formally been called under defunct European Constitution, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs.^[3] The Minister would also be a Vice-President in the Commission and chair the Council of Ministers in its Foreign Affairs configuration. Although the Minister has powers to make proposals he or she can only represent the Union in matters where there is an agreed policy between all member states. The post is backed by an External Action Service (EEAS), which assists the new combined High Representative to generate consensus in the European Union and implement that consensus when achieved.^[4]

This combination of posts has been seen as furthering the answer to Kissinger's question:

The creation of a High Representative for foreign policy, or, better still, a Minister for foreign affairs would be a big change compared with the current situation. It would put an end to the double job which exists between the current function of Mr Javier Solana, and that carried out within the Commission by Mme Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in charge of the external aid of the EU. One and the same person would therefore deal with problems and respond to the famous telephone calls of Henry Kissinger: ‘ I want to speak to Europe.’ ”

—Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in his blog, 5 July 2007 ^[5]

According to proposals made in 2009 by the Swedish EU presidency, the High Representative will control the staffing and budget of the EEAS, and propose the size of budget to be allocated. The High Representative is responsible for appointing EEAS staff and for controlling general foreign policy (outside of trade, development and enlargement which has to be made together with the Commission) including security initiatives and intelligence sharing. However, although the High Representative may prepare initiatives, decisions will still have to be taken by the member states in Council. The High Representative would also have to report to Parliament.^[6]

Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland

After numerous candidates were put forward, EU leaders agreed on Lady Ashton of Upholland from the United Kingdom as the first High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Ashton was previously the European Commissioner for Trade and otherwise had no foreign affairs experience. Ashton unexpectedly came to the top of the shortlist when she was nominated unanimously by the centre-left leaders who claimed the post.^[7][8] Ashton needs to be confirmed by the European Parliament before she can take up the post.

In the same European Council meeting, Pierre de Boissieu was appointed Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, showing that the High Representative and the Secretary-General will no longer be necessarily the same person.^[9]

[edit] See also

• High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
• Common Foreign and Security Policy
• European Security and Defence Policy
• General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
• Council of the European Union
• Foreign relations of the European Union
• Military of the European Union
• European Union Special Representative
• EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
• External Action Service of the European Union

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Javier Solana consilium.europa.eu
• Council Decision of 13 September 1999 appointing the Secretary-General, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, of the Council of the European Union eur-lex.europa.eu
• "Presidency Conclusions Brussels European Council 21/22 June 2007" (PDF). Council of the European Union. 23 June 2007. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/ec/94932.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-26. 

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