European External Action Service and International Relations related content 

Catherine Ashton and her colleagues need to show more understanding of how essential development is to security. Last week you reported on the storm of criticism facing the...

EU's foreign policy chief responds to criticism from foreign ministers of 12 member states. Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has been forced to...

The European External Action Service has had a difficult first 12 months, and hopes have faded that Catherine Ashton will settle into her role as EU foreign policy chief. The...

Some of the outlines of the strategy that the EU's diplomatic service needs. The first 12 months of the European External Action Service (EEAS), which formally came into...

While the EU wants to change how it deals with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the fragile peace in the country is rapidly deteriorating. For close to 16 years, Bosnia and...

The EU's greater foreign-policy ambitions are being reflected in EU studies courses. Next week (25-26 October), the College of Europe will host a conference on challenges...

Appointments include a new EU special representative (EUSR) for the south Caucasus and Georgia and three directors in the EEAS's Brussels headquarters. French diplomats...

Appointments fill gaps in senior management of EU's diplomatic service. Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, today (4 August) appointed three national diplomats...

Poland's chances of foreign policy success rest on its ability to juggle competing demands from the south and east. Poland is the fourth new-ish member state of the EU to...

European Commission says up to 6,000 EU citizens are still in Libya. The European Union is drawing up a contingency plan for an armed humanitarian intervention in Libya in...

A suggestion for a unique arrangement to advance Turkey's and the EU's strategic interests – and, possibly, help end the impasse over Turkey's accession talks. The...

Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has published an organisation chart for the diplomatic service that is to be launched on 1 January.

Foreign policy chief urges EU to adopt a more focused approach in relations with the US, Russia and China. EU leaders were today told that the Union must craft a more...

EU and India have been negotiating a trade deal since 2007. India and the EU are hoping that a summit next week will generate the political momentum required to conclude a...

Italian appointed to senior diplomatic post. Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, today appointed Agostino Miozzo as crisis co-ordinator in the EU's...

Former British diplomat and director-general in the Council of Ministers joins the EU's diplomatic corps.

A German and a Pole to serve as deputy secretaries-general of the EU's new diplomatic service. Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has appointed...

Just possibly, EU defence ministers may have realised that only their personal engagement will ensure co-operation between their military staff. Can this really be true?...

Amnesty International's new secretary-general warns that the position of human rights in the EU's new diplomatic corps is precarious. The European Union ought to continue to...

Failure to secure enhanced speaking rights at the UN underlines the EU's need to do its diplomatic homework better. The EU hoped to get the new diplomatic season off to a...