WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2203/96 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Position of the Commission regarding the creation of a CFSP Secretariat
Date: 1996-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ ALBOR
Subjects: Council of the European Union, European Commission, European security, common foreign and security policy, foreign policy, intergovernmental conference (EU), interinstitutional cooperation (EU), international relations, secretariat of an Institution













EUR-Lex - 91996E2203 - EN






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91996E2203

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2203/96 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. Position of the Commission regarding the creation of a CFSP Secretariat  


Official Journal C 011 , 13/01/1997 P. 0063 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/96 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission (2 August 1996)Subject: Position of the Commission regarding the creation of a CFSP SecretariatA number of prominent European political figures have called for the CFSP to have a Secretariat of its own, with a specific status, which would operate under the direction of the Council and play a similar role with regard to the common foreign and security policy to that played by the Commission with regard to Community policies: identifying the common interest, proposing decisions, monitoring their implementation and representing the Union at international meetings which are not the responsibility of the Council.This arrangement would require a redefinition of certain areas of international relations, in conjunction with the Commission, so as to preserve overall consistency and prevent an artificial separation or a serious lack of coordination between economic and monetary policy and foreign and security policy.Can the Commission state its position on the above proposal, which is supported by numerous pro-European political figures?Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (8 October 1996)In its opinion on preparations for the intergovernmental conference, ((Doc. COM(96) 90. )) the Commission took the view that the Council Presidency and Commission should ensure effective cooperation between the two institutions responsible in their different ways for the Union's foreign policy. For the sake of consistency, continuity and efficiency, it is vital that such cooperation is maintained from the moment common foreign and security policies are drafted right up to the adoption and implementation stages.Greater clarity in this area could bolster interinstitutional dialogue and make external action more consistent, as recommended in Article C of the Union Treaty.Strengthening the Council Secretariat to give the Presidency the support it undoubtedly needs could not, however, result in the creation of a new institution. The Secretariat's role cannot be divorced from that of the Council Presidency.In any case, the creation of a separate secretariat general for common foreign and security policy (CFSP) could represent a step back to the time before the Union Treaty, which set up a single institutional framework for the Union. There is no way such a secretariat could take the place of the Council Presidency-Commission 'tandem', which is still vital in ensuring that the various areas of foreign policy keep in step with each other.