EUROPEAN PARLY VIEWS DON’T CONSTITUTE OFFICIAL EU POSITION

MANZINI - The European Parliament (EP) has no role in the external representation of the EU, says Robert Adam, Charge d’Affaires, ad interim, of the EU Delegation to Eswatini.

Adam said this in a statement which was released by the Political Assistant and Information Office of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Eswatini yesterday. The statement was released following an article which was published by our sister publication, the Times of Eswatini yesterday about the European Parliament resolution on Eswatini.

The Charge d’Affaires said; “The European Parliament resolution reflect the views of the European Parliament and do not constitute the official EU position, which can only be established by the council of the EU or European Council or by statements of the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy/vice-president of the European Commission.” He added that the European Parliament has no role in the external representation of the EU.

Responsibility

He said this was the responsibility of the president of the European Council (as per Article 15 (e) of the Treaty for European Union (TEU), the High Representative (according to Article 27 (2) of the TEU), the commission (as started in Article 17 (1) of the TEU) and union delegations in third States and at international organisations (as contained in Article 221 of the treaty on the functions of the European Union (TFEU)). He said these were placed in the high representative and formed an integral part of the European External Action Service.

According to the Consolidated TEU; Article 15 (e) says; “The president of the European Council shall, at his level and in that capacity, ensure the external representation of the union on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy, without prejudice to the powers of the high representative of the union for Foreign Affairs and security policy.” On the other hand, Article 27 (2) of the TEU says; “The high representative shall represent the union on matters relating to the common foreign and security policy.

Conduct

“He shall conduct political dialogue with third parties on the union’s behalf and shall express the union’s position in international organisations and at international conferences.” Again, Article 17 (1) of the TEU reads; “The Commission shall promote the general interest of the Union and take appropriate initiatives to that end. “It shall ensure the application of the treaties, and of measures adopted by the institutions pursuant to them.

Oversee

“It shall oversee the application of union law under the control of the Court of Justice of the European Union. It shall execute the budget and manage programmes. “It shall exercise coordinating, executive and management functions, as laid down in the treaties. “With the exception of the common foreign and security policy and other cases provided for in the treaties, it shall ensure the union’s external representation. “It shall initiate the union’s annual and multiannual programming with a view to achieving inter-institutional agreements.” Moreover, Article 221 of the TFEU states that; “Union delegations shall be placed under the authority of the high representative of the union for foreign affairs and security policy.“They shall act in close cooperation with member States’ diplomatic and consular missions.”

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