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Overview

  • Role: Manages the EU's diplomatic relations with other countries outside the bloc and conducts EU foreign and security policy
  • High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Kaja Kallas 
  • Established in: 2011
  • Location: Brussels (Belgium)
  • WebsiteEuropean External Action Service

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the EU's diplomatic service. It aims to make EU foreign policy more coherent and effective, thus increasing Europe's global influence.

What does the EEAS do?

Practical examples include:

  • peace building – through political, economic and practical support
  • ensuring security – under the Common Security and Defence Policy
  • maintaining good relations with the EU's immediate neighbours through the European Neighbourhood Policy
  • development and humanitarian aid and crisis response
  • tackling climate change and human rights issues

Composition

The European External Action Service is led by the EU foreign affairs chief – or High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. It is composed of:

How does EEAS work?

The High Representative is also a Vice-President of the European Commission. She represents the EU's foreign and security policy around the world, coordinates the work of the European Commission on EU external relations and chairs meetings of EU Foreign, Defence and Development ministers. The High Representative/Vice-President implements EU foreign and security policy, together with EU countries and using national and EU resources. This helps ensure consistency in foreign policy across the bloc.

Outside its borders, the European Union is represented by a number of in-country offices – EU delegations – which have a similar role to that of an embassy.

The EEAS and you

EU foreign affairs policies and programmes help protect you – as an EU citizen – outside EU borders and can also provide education and career opportunities.

To interact with EEAS, you can:

  • petition on foreign policy issues
  • take part in public consultations on foreign policy
  • email enquiries about EEAS

Further information

EEAS annual activity reports

Contact

European External Action Service (EEAS)

Name
European External Action Service (EEAS)
Website
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/_en
Phone number
+32 2 584 11 11
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