Annex: extract of the EUSR review from the Minister's
letter of 4 December 2013 on the EU High Representative's review
of the European External Action Service (EEAS):
"In its report,[56]
the European Scrutiny Committee asked for further information
of when, and in what form, the review of EU Special Representatives
(EUSRs), foreseen in the EEAS review, will emerge. Discussions
on EUSRs are ongoing. The UK has been working hard with like-minded
partners to gain support for our objectives of increasing the
effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of EUSRs, with a
particular emphasis on the importance of national parliaments
being given adequate time to review and revise mandates in the
light of the circumstances in which an EUSR deployment is being
considered.
"This work was interrupted on 14 October by
an unexpected proposal from the EEAS setting out the 'possible
modalities and timetable' for a full transfer of EUSRs, their
staff and associated resources to the EEAS. This was backed up
with a European Parliament proposal to decrease the EUSR line
within the CFSP budget by 50% and transfer it to the EEAS. Following
quick action by British officials in Brussels, with support from
a majority of other Member States, this proposal has now been
rejected.
"As a result of efforts by the UK and like-minded
Member States, the EEAS circulated on 25 November a non-paper
setting out further options on EUSRs. This was discussed during
a 28 November Brussels meeting on horizontal issues, attended
by Julian Braithwaite, the UK's Ambassador to the Political and
Security Committee (PSC). The paper and discussion were predominantly
positive from a UK perspective. The UK set out our objectives
for EUSRs, including the need for a greater focus on efficiency,
effectiveness and accountability, as well as a reduction in EUSR
grading from AD16 to 14, to tackle the excessive salaries that
you have highlighted as a key concern for the Committee.
"The subsequent discussion saw support from
a number of Member States for EUSR grades (and their salaries)
to be reconsidered or reduced, as well as appetite for increasing
efficiency and effectiveness of the role. The EEAS also agreed
that the promised review of the 2007 Council guidelines for EUSRs
should take place by spring 2014 - in good time before the next
round of EUSR mandate renewals in summer 2014. We are now working
to ensure that a commitment to hold the 2014 review on EUSRs is
included in the General Affairs Council Conclusions on the wider
EEAS review process."
56 See (35271) -: HC 83-xx (2013-14), chapter 10 (6
November 2013). Back
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