The European External Action Service

The Treaty of Lisbon (2009) provided for the establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to support the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Apart from the headquarters in Brussels, the EEAS also has a network of 145 EU-delegations in third countries and to international organisations.

The EEAS cooperates closely with the EU member states’ national diplomatic services and supports the Commission, the European Parliament, and the President of the European Council. The EEAS draws its staff from the EU civil service and from the diplomatic services of the member states. The latter only serve for the EEAS for a limited time before returning to the national diplomatic service of their respective home countries.