Stefan Huber, acting head of the EU Delegation to Japan until a new ambassador is nominated, speaks to Europolitics about the delegation’s preparations for the European External Action Service (EAS) and the risks associated with its implementation seen from the perspective of one of the EU’s most important diplomatic delegations.

How will the first ambassadors of the EAS be nominated?

Nominations for the first 30 posts to be filled in September 2010 will take place this month. For many candidate diplomats in the different member states, it’s their first experience of just how serious and drawn-out the selection procedures within the Commission are. It’s an example of equal opportunities. We require that anyone wishing to become a diplomat in Japan must appear before a jury. Ministers of foreign affairs in the different member states follow different procedures. Imagine a French ambassador being questioned by a jury….. I don’t think Lady Ashton is about to change these rules. She has the power of nomination and all the signs indicate that she wants the best, which means that she will stick to the procedures.

Do you think that senior diplomats in member states will experience difficult times?

The results at the end of July will tell us. They should not have any problems passing the interviews, particularly since it has been decided that priority will be given to candidates from member states until their quotas have been reached.

We are expecting many colleagues from EU member states to arrive. Because therein lies the added value. And it’s a question also of credibility with regard to the public. It’s a fascinating project. It’s in an area where most change has been scheduled over the next few years. Personal ambitions will have to take a back seat for a while.

Will Tokyo become a battle zone? The first test will be to see if there are any ‘political’ nominations.

Political pressure is possible. But before that the posts have to be published, candidates have to present themselves and pass three interview phases. It’s a question of credibility to give a significant number of the first 30 posts to member states, particularly the posts at director-general level, which will be filled this year, that is Moscow, Washington, Geneva, Peking, Tokyo and New York. It’s essential, both with regard to the European and our partner countries. We have told them that Europe would speak with one voice as a result of the Lisbon Treaty. If, now, we come with a series of former national ambassadors to head the delegations it would prove that our promises were not just empty words. This means that a truly joint entity must be set uniting the best of the national diplomats.

Would it make sense for most of the key posts to be given to ambassadors from member states?

Personally, that is what I am hoping for. We have a lot to teach each other. But extensive diplomatic experience is to be found in national services.

What will change on the ground once the EAS is in place?

We provide many services to member states. Firstly infrastructures, notably meeting rooms or event venues. In Tokyo, we are building a new centre. We are also preparing different tools, which will then be made available to the different member states. A new element will be the sharing of reports. It will spark a political dynamic. If you make a political report on the situation in Japan available to member states, national ambassadors will be able to pass it on the their head offices, adding a few paragraphs of their own. It will allow member states to concentrate on their strategic interests, such as culture or promoting business. This opening of doors is very new. We have received instructions to move as quickly as possible in this direction.

Have the Japanese changed their attitude since the Lisbon Treaty?

The Japanese are more meticulous than most. They are like St Thomas, they first want to see and touch. It’s the only third country that has questioned the EU in detail on the legal implications of the Lisbon Treaty. We received the final ‘note verbale’ recognising the EU only last week. It’s an awareness (slightly late) of enormous changes that are taking place and that have taken them by surprise. And yet, we have been sending very clear signals at a local level, notably under the French EU Presidency. But the Japanese underestimated them.

The Japanese have a problem with the notion of European integration. They don’t understand it: for them, it only exists in the United States or the United Nations. They have always given priority to bilateral relations with member states. It takes them a while to understand but once they have understood, things on their side move very fast.