The Coordination Role of the European External Action Service

In its role of coordinating central institutions and external bodies in enacting CFSP, the EEAS has a variety of strengths. After conducting an internal review in 2021, it reformed and reorganised its working methods and guidelines into a well-structured resource accessible on the EEAS intranet. There is frequent bilateral communication between the EEAS and delegations, with each delegation having a designated desk officer at EEAS HQ to communicate with on a daily basis. Communications from EEAS HQ to delegations are always clear and actionable when timely received. Coordination between the EEAS and the Commission and Council is also conducted well, with the EEAS taking an active role. 

However, in each of these areas, the report also finds weaknesses that ought to be improved upon. A common issue was the timeliness of important communications. For the delegations, while day-to-day communications were quick and frequent, the transmission from EEAS HQ to delegations of feedback on activities, annual planning, and introductory "mission letters" for incoming ambassadors had no set timeline, were received late, or in some cases were not received at all. These communication issues are exacerbated by an IT system that, though secure in itself, was frequently deemed too complex and cumbersome by delegation staff to be used, especially in regions with low internet speeds. Improvements for these IT and information-sharing systems could include centrally updated email distribution lists and improved interoperability between the intranets of the EU institutions, especially systems for document collaboration and briefings for the Foreign Affairs Council. Within delegations, staff come from a variety of institutions, including EEAS HQ, the Commission, and Member States, but delegations find that they often do not have sufficient personnel to carry our all their tasks.

Overall, simplification of the IT systems, improved and enforced timelines for sharing of key information, and more resources for staffing would greatly address the current deficiencies in an otherwise successful ecosystem. 

Reference: European Court of Auditors (2024). The coordination role of the European External Action Service - Mostly working effectively, but some weaknesses in information management, staffing and reporting.