The Committee aims to report to the House, with recommendations, in April 2013. The report will receive a response from the Government and may be debated in the House.
The European External Action Service (EEAS), formally launched on 1 January 2011, is one of the most important institutional innovations of the Lisbon Treaty. The launch marked the culmination of a year-long negotiation between the EU institutions following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.
The function of the EEAS is to assist the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission (HRVP), currently Baroness Ashton, in performing her duties which include representing the Union for matters relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), conducting political dialogue with third parties on the Union's behalf and expressing the Union's position in international organisations and international conferences.
In 2013 the High Representative will review the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service. This inquiry aims to influence the debate on the EEAS.