Though several ingrained objections remained, MEPs largely backed High Representative Catherine Ashton’s blueprint for the External Action Service (EAS) in the European Parliament’s 7 July debate with her ahead of an 8 July vote. After months of talks, Ashton appears to have converted as many people to the cause of the new diplomatic service as she ever will and there was a sense in the plenary that, as Ashton phrased it, “the time has come to decide”.

To the remaining sceptics, Ashton said, “I hope over time to win you round,” acknowledging the recurring concerns she heard in Parliament on the geographic balance of the staff, the balance between the civilian and military elements of crisis management and the involvement of Parliament itself. But, she argued, “the vote you are making is an historic step in the development of the EU”.

She recognised the issue of geographic balance as the most frequently repeated objection, particularly among MEPs from new member states after Polish Conservative MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski argued that “to have a strong EAS it has to be representative of the whole Union”. French EPP MEP Arnaud Danjean argued that the crisis management structures as laid out under Ashton’s plans were too unbalanced towards the military. Ingeborg Grässle, also of the EPP, added a note of general objection, quipping: “Well, congratulations on setting up a 28th diplomatic service without knowing what its competences are and what it will cost”.

But in a positive sign, some of the EAS’ original sceptics said they accepted the deal. British Conservative Charles Tannock conceded that “the EAS as presented now represents an acceptable compromise”. GUE-NGL’s Willy Meyer of Spain, however, announced that his party would vote against the EAS plan for being too “militarised”.