As planned, the General Affairs Council (GAC) formally approved, on 26 July, a decision setting out the organisation and functioning of the External Action Service (EAS) and endorsed the negotiation framework for the accession of Iceland to the European Union. Doubts remain with regards to the desire of Reykjavik to enter the EU, bilateral issues with the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and whaling. Nevertheless, the first accession conference with Iceland will kick off on 27 July (see separate article).   Of the 35 chapters that will be opened many should be unproblematic as Iceland, which has been part of the common market for over 15 years through the European Economic Area (EEA) and is a member of the Schengen area, has already adopted much of the acquis communautaire. However, questions were raised with regards to the negative opinion of a majority of Iceland’s population in view of their country entering the EU. Member states are reluctant to make concessions to a country which does not seem convinced it wants to be part of the EU on topics where discussions are expected to be difficult such as fisheries and financial services.

EAS: “HISTORIC”

Following the approval of the External Action Service by the European Parliament, on 8 July, and by the Commission, on 20 July, the Council formally endorsed a decision establishing the EU’s diplomatic service. High Representative Catherine Ashton said: “ I am delighted that in four short months since I tabled the proposal, we have come so far. We can now move forward to build a modern, effective and distinctly European service for the 21st century. ”

This procedural act, which Inter-Institutional Relations Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Vanackere qualified of “ historic”, means Ashton, will be able to officially begin constructing the EAS. The objective is to have it up and running by 1 December, a year after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Ashton’s first step will be to launch the recruitment procedure. Interviews have already begun and the high representative hopes to be able to officially recruit senior staff in October. Sources from the Council claim at least ten names are circulating. However, for Ashton to be able to hire there is still need for a supplementary budget for 2010. Two other issues remain to be solved between the EP and the Council: the financial and the staff regulations.

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES

Sefcovic assured that all proposed flagship initiatives with regards to the EU 2020 Objectives would be on the table of the Council and presented to the Parliament at the latest by early 2011. Most of them will already be revealed in autumn, he added. Sefcovic also guaranteed the Commission would come up with new proposals to improve the EU internal market which take into account the recommendations of the Monti report.

The Council gave the Belgian EU Presidency an opportunity to present, once again, its programme for its six months at the helm of the technical formations of the Council. Its priorities are growth, social progress and the fight against poverty and social exclusion, international climate negotiations, freedom, security and justice and the EU’s global influence.

As part of the “ missions” the Belgian presidency has set itself, the follow-up to the previous EU summit in June was discussed, with economic governance and the stability and growth pact dominating debate. The draft agenda for the next summit, on 16 September, was also prepared. The focus will be on the EU’s relationship with strategic partners as well as on the interim report, presented on that occasion, of the taskforce on economic governance led by the Council President Herman Van Rompuy. Its preparation will continue at the next Council of General Affairs  on 13 September, in the presence of Van Rompuy.

ROMA

One last point was raised at the GAC on demand from the French delegation: the Roma issue. Disappointed by the lack of mobilisation, Pierre Lellouche, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, called for “renewed initiative”. n