リスボン条約とEUの対外関係（2009年12月―2011年１月）

抄録

The Lisbon Treaty entered into force as of the 1st of December in 2009 in an unexpected international and domestic environment. The global power shift, from the West to the East as well as from the North to the South, has become visible because of the decline of the economic power of the US and Europe in contrast to the emerging countries including China and India.
The Lisbon Treaty aimed at strengthening the foreign and security policy of the EU by nominating the President of the European Council as well as the High Representative of the Foreign and Security Policy, who is double-hatted with the Vice President of the European Commission. The establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the sui generis body, is expected to facilitate policy coordination and implementation. By the end of the year 2010, principal posts of the EEAS were appointed. Its overseas delegations are to have political officers and the EU member countries are to contribute their diplomats to them. The EU delegations are to take the role of coordination among the EU member countries’ embassies and missions to the international organisations, which used to be the role of the presidency countries. The European Parliament is increasing its role in EU external relations. The EU has started to review its relations with its strategic partners, which include the US, Russia, Canada, Japan, China, India, Brazil. Mexico and South Africa. In the course of the year 2010, the EU had an extraordinary summit meeting in September with the Foreign Ministers and it was discussed in the European Council in December. It will serve an enhanced role of the EU as a global player. Once the European External Action Service is in full action in several years, it will enhance the role of the EU as a global player.