Overeenkomst over de externe representatie van de EU (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Pools voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2011 i, gepubliceerd op zaterdag 22 oktober 2011.

The Polish Presidency has managed to resolve the long dispute over how the European Union is represented in international organisations.

The Polish Presidency has succeeded in reaching agreement among Member States, the European Commission and the European External Action Service on how EU statements are delivered in international organisations. The lack of agreement up to now has weakened the EU's position in relation to external partners, making it impossible to speak ‘with one voice’ in international organisations such as the UN and the OSCE.

The dispute has its origins in differences in how treaty provisions are interpreted by Member States, the European Commission and the EEAS i. The Lisbon Treaty entrusted the task of external representation to EU institutions (i.e. the President of the European Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European Commission and EU delegations), but did not change the division of powers between the EU and the Member States in particular areas of EU activity. In many areas of external relations, Member States continue to have full power to define representation rules to external parties (in international forums).

After intensive negotiations under the chairmanship of the Polish Presidency, general rules for preparing EU positions and declarations in international organisations have been developed. This agreement - confirmed at Saturday's General Affairs Council meeting - states in which cases the EU will apply the wording ‘on the authority of the EU’ and in which ‘on the authority of the EU and Member States’, and also establishes a procedure for resolving any disputes on this issue.

The agreed practical solution results from the Treaty’s division of powers and takes into account the powers of EU institutions and Member States. The adopted agreement is permanent and constitutes a pragmatic mechanism. The EEAS and the European Commission are required to present Member States with a report on its operation by the end of 2012.