Who controls the European External Action Service? Agent autonomy in EU external relations

Furness, Mark (2011) Who controls the European External Action Service? Agent autonomy in EU external relations. [Conference Proceedings] (Submitted)

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Abstract

When the European External Action Service (EEAS) became operational on 1 January 2011 it was still not clear exactly what position it occupies in the pluralistic EU external policymaking system, where member states and supranational actors already operate with varying degrees of influence and autonomy. One way of clarifying this issue is to discuss the degree of autonomy the EEAS may have and to whom it is accountable. This paper uses a principal-agent (PA) framework of analysis to discuss the EEAS’ institutional design and policy mandates. Can the EEAS act autonomously? Are there policy areas in which the EEAS has greater decision-making autonomy than others? Such questions are central to discussions of the post-Lisbon Treaty EU’s role as an international actor.

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