Summary Notes: External Relations of the EU – Textbook Overview

EU EXTERNAL ACTION
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................................2
2. The foundations of EU external action..................................................................................................2
2.1. In search of consistency and effectiveness...........................................................................................................................2
2.2. Principle of conferral.............................................................................................................................................................2
2.3. Distinction between ordinary EU external action and the CFSP...........................................................................................3
2.4. CFSP.......................................................................................................................................................................................3
2.5. The Common principles and objectives of EU external action.............................................................................................4

3. The existence of EU external competences............................................................................................5
3.1. The fundamentals..................................................................................................................................................................5
3.2. Implied Competences............................................................................................................................................................6

4. The nature of EU External competences................................................................................................7
4.1. Fundamental s.......................................................................................................................................................................8
4.2. Exclusive external competence on the basis of Art 3(2) TFEU..............................................................................................8
4.3. Consequences of exclusive competence.............................................................................................................................11
4.4. Non-exclusive competences................................................................................................................................................12

5. Decision-making in EU external action................................................................................................14
5.1. Ordinary Union Method......................................................................................................................................................14
5.2. The CFSP..............................................................................................................................................................................16
5.3. The hIgh representative and the European External ACtion service..................................................................................21

6. External representation and international agreements.......................................................................22
6.1. External representation.......................................................................................................................................................22
6.2. International agreements....................................................................................................................................................23

7. Managing the vertical division of EU external competences................................................................26
7.1. Mixed agreements...............................................................................................................................................................26
7.2. Sincere cooperation............................................................................................................................................................28

8. Managing the horizontal division of EU external competences............................................................29
8.1. Post-Lisbon..........................................................................................................................................................................29




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,1. INTRODUCTION

► The law governing how the EU organises its relations with the outside world  relations
are broad in scope and varied in substance
o E.g. Goods and services that cross the EU’s external borders are regulated by EU
external action law
► MS want
o to preserve their competence and control over EU external action
o seek to enhance the EU’s external effectiveness and consistency
 objectives are in obvious tension  each manifested themselves in multiple
rounds of treaty amendment in various ways


2. THE FOUNDATIONS OF EU EXTERNAL ACTION


2.1. IN SEARCH OF CONSISTENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS

► core tasks of the key actors of the EU’s external action introduced by the Lisbon Treaty
o the High representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
o European External action services)

Is to ensure the consistency of the Union’s external action

► Drafters: realised consistency in external action would be problematic for the Union 
evident from Art 21(3): provides for the Union to ensure consistency between the
different areas of its external action and between these and its other policies
► When considering a response to an international situation
 is there requisite competence to act all
 on what legal basis in the Treaties
 through what institution action should be taken?
o The Union must always give precedence to consideration of competence
over considerations of effectiveness


2.2. PRINCIPLE OF CONFERRAL

Art 5(1) & (2) TEU:
(1) The Limits of Union competences are governed by the principle of conferral
(2) Under the principle of conferral, the Union shall act only within the limits of the
competences conferred upon it by the Member States in the Treaties to attain the


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, objectives set out therin. Competences not conferred upon the Union in the Treaties
remain with the Member States
► The organization only has those competences that the Member States have explivtly or
impliedly conferred on it in the constitution
► Before any action: Union must determine whether it has competence to act:
o The EU is incapable of extending its own competences
o It does not have general law-making capacity
 every single EU action require:
(1) one or more legal bases in the Treaties,
(2) which must be based on objective factors
(3) that are amenable to judicial review and
(4) which determine both the vertical and horizontal division of competences
► Applicablity: external and internal policies
► EU must link the acts which it adopts to provision of the TFEU which actually empower
it to adopt such acts  proceeding on incorrect legal basis is liable to invalidate
the act concluding the agreement itself


2.3. DISTINCTION BETWEEN ORDINARY EU EXTERNAL ACTION AND THE CFSP

► MS have the liberty to decide:
o the manner in which they confer those competences
o how much power they are willing to relinquish
► EU approached the subject from to different angles
(a) External socioeconomic relations (external trade and development
cooperation) ordinary EU external action  legal rules governing this area
are mostly set out in the TFEU
(b) High politics (diplomatic activity and security and defence issues) 
Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP)  legal rules concerning this are in
TEU


2.4. CFSP

► Title V TEU  Lisbon Treaty has subjected the CFSP to the overall constitutional
framework of the EU
► Criticism: Chapter 2 of the Title V TEU : an absence of any clear detailed list of what
precisely encompasses

Art 24(1) TEU



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, All areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the Union’s security, including the
progressive framing of the common defence policy that might lead to a common defence




Art 42(1) TEU

The common Security and Defence Policy shall be an integral part of the CFSP. It shall
provide the Union with an operational capacity drawing on civilian and military assets




Art 42(2) TEU

The CSDP is to include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy. This
will lead to a common defence, when the European Council, acting unanimously, so
decides. It shall in that case recommend to the Member State the adoption of such a
decision in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.




Art 24(2)TEU

Refers to the professive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to a common
defence

► The role of European Council and the condition that the Member States need to
adopt a decision in accordance with their respective constitutional
requirements  not much legal significance should be attached to the phrase ‘will
lead to a common defence’ in Art 42(2) TEU


2.5. THE COMMON PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES OF EU EXTERNAL ACTION

► CFSP objectives in the Lisbon Treaty that were deleted`;
(1) to safeguard the common values, fundamental interests, independence and
integrity of the Union in conformity with the principles of the United Nations Charter
(2) To strengthen the security of the Union in all ways
(3) To preserve peace and strengthen international security, in accordance with the
principles of the UN Charter, as well as the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and
the objectives of the Paris Charter, including those on external borders
(4) To promote international cooperation
(5) To develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms

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