The Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service (EEAS) was on hand last week to launch a report by the European Policy Centre (EPC) on one year of the EEAS.

In his opening remarks, David O’Sullivan noted how a number of reports had been commissioned on the EEAS to mark its first full year in existence, which have made welcome and constructive assessments of the new service.
 
The speech recapped the main steps taken to establish the EEAS, looking back at 2011, and pointing out the way forward for 2012 and beyond.

Mr O’Sullivan stated that what has guided the EEAS this year has been the overall aim to build up a service to pursue Europe’s interests in the world, to make EU foreign policy more coherent, and to provide continuity in external representation, going beyond the six-monthly rotation of the EU presidency.
 
One year on from setting up the EEAS, he maintained that there is greater coherence in the EU's external action, increased partnership within the EU institutions and Member States, and stronger continuity in the message of Europe around the world.
 
Read the full speech here [40 KB]