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HOME CONTACT E-Learning Unit 3: The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance Introduction The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe Dissolving of the Pillar Structure Reforming the Union´s Competencies A Clear-Cut Catalogue of Competences? Categories of Competences Reforming the Procedures and Instruments Revision Procedures Legislative Procedures Budgetary Procedure A Revised Institutional Architecture The European Parliament Increase in Competence and Function With New Strength Towards a Bicameral System A Full-Fledged Parliament? The European Council An Expanded List of Tasks The President of the European Council The Council of Ministers Composition of the Council and its Presidency The New Majority Formula An Enhanced Ability? The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs The European Commission Reforms in the Light of European 'Leitideen' An Enhanced President of the Commission The College Perspectives Towards a New Institutional Balance? In a Fusion Trend? The TCE as a Further Step in the Evolution of European States? Further Readings .	Source: de.news.yahoo.com/ III.4 The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs The creation of an office for a 'Union Minister for Foreign Affairs' stands as the most central innovation of the proposed institutional architecture. It is another attempt, in line with past efforts, aimed at promoting the efficient cooperation between the Member States, as well as ensuring the "consistency between the different areas of its external action (Title V Part III TCE) and between these and its other policies" (Art. III-292 (3) TCE). For this task, it has been envisaged to merge into a "double hat" the High Representative and the Vice president of the Commission who is responsible for external relations [three functions of the Foreign Minister Art. I-28]. This constitutional set-up places him in an environment of strong inter- and intra-institutional tension. In that, he shall be supported by the "European External Action Service" (Art. III-296 (3) TCE). Already the Convention has invested great expectations in his office while the instruments at his disposal are rather limited. It is hoped that he will advance the objectives of the Union through far reaching proposals and activities on the one hand, yet as president of the Foreign Affairs Council, his main objective must remain - not least because of the dominant use of unanimity - the forging of consensus among the Member States. In fulfilling his duties, he will have to reconcile different political interests not only of Member States, but also of Commission ressorts and relevant interest networks. The election and the description of tasks of the Foreign minister are almost an ideal typical instance of the fusion trend: legitimacy and functions are merged. Links: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe	Source: www.pitztaler-info.at/ Art. I-28 TCE 'Three functions of thr Foreign Minister' 1. The European Council, acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the President of the Commission, shall appoint the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs. The European Council may end his or her term of office by the same procedure. 2. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall conduct the Union's common foreign and security policy. He or she shall contribute by his or her proposals to the development of that policy, which he or she shall carry out as mandated by the Council. The same shall apply to the common security and defence policy. 3. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall preside over the Foreign Affairs Council. 4. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission. He or she shall ensure the consistency of the Union's external action. He or she shall be responsible within the Commission for responsibilities incumbent on it in external relations and for coordinating other aspects of the Union's external action. In exercising these responsibilities within the Commission, and only for these responsibilities, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be bound by Commission procedures to the extent that this is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 3.
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EU E-Learning Units

CONTACT

E-Learning Unit 3: The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance

Introduction
The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe
A Revised Institutional Architecture
1. The European Parliament
2. The European Council
  1. An Expanded List of Tasks
  2. The President of the European Council
3. The Council of Ministers
4. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs
5. The European Commission

Source: de.news.yahoo.com/

III.4 The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs

The creation of an office for a 'Union Minister for Foreign Affairs' stands as the most central innovation of the proposed institutional architecture. It is another attempt, in line with past efforts, aimed at promoting the efficient cooperation between the Member States, as well as ensuring the "consistency between the different areas of its external action (Title V Part III TCE) and between these and its other policies" (Art. III-292 (3) TCE). For this task, it has been envisaged to merge into a "double hat" the High Representative and the Vice president of the Commission who is responsible for external relations [three functions of the Foreign Minister Art. I-28]. This constitutional set-up places him in an environment of strong inter- and intra-institutional tension. In that, he shall be supported by the "European External Action Service" (Art. III-296 (3) TCE). Already the Convention has invested great expectations in his office while the instruments at his disposal are rather limited. It is hoped that he will advance the objectives of the Union through far reaching proposals and activities on the one hand, yet as president of the Foreign Affairs Council, his main objective must remain - not least because of the dominant use of unanimity - the forging of consensus among the Member States. In fulfilling his duties, he will have to reconcile different political interests not only of Member States, but also of Commission ressorts and relevant interest networks. The election and the description of tasks of the Foreign minister are almost an ideal typical instance of the fusion trend: legitimacy and functions are merged.

Links:

Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe

Source: www.pitztaler-info.at/

Art. I-28 TCE 'Three functions of thr Foreign Minister'

1. The European Council, acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the President of the Commission, shall appoint the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs. The European Council may end his or her term of office by the same procedure.

2. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall conduct the Union's common foreign and security policy. He or she shall contribute by his or her proposals to the development of that policy, which he or she shall carry out as mandated by the Council. The same shall apply to the common security and defence policy.

3. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall preside over the Foreign Affairs Council.

4. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission. He or she shall ensure the consistency of the Union's external action. He or she shall be responsible within the Commission for responsibilities incumbent on it in external relations and for coordinating other aspects of the Union's external action. In exercising these responsibilities within the Commission, and only for these responsibilities, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be bound by Commission procedures to the extent that this is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 3.

GLOSSARY: