Self-Control Exercises (CFSP)
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Pursuant to Article 24 TEU, the EU’s competence in matters of CFSP cover all areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the EU’s security, including the progressive framing of a common
policy that might lead to a common defence. Pursuant to Article 26 TEU, the
identifies the EU’s strategic interests, determines the objectives of and defines general guidelines for the CFSP, including for matters with
implications. It adopts the necessary decisions. If international developments so require, the
of the European Council shall convene an extraordinary
of the European Council in order to define the strategic lines of the EU’s policy in the face of such developments. The
of the European Union frames the CFSP and takes the decisions necessary for defining and implementing it on the basis of the general guidelines and strategic lines defined by the European Council. The Council of the European Union and the
ensure the unity, consistency and effectiveness of action by the EU. The CFSP is put into effect by the High Representative and by the Member States, using national and EU resources. Thus, the
and the Council define and implement the CFSP, and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the
put the CFSP into effect. Pursuant to Article 27 TEU, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy chairs the Foreign Affairs
, and contributes through his proposals to the development of the CFSP, and ensures implementation of the decisions adopted by the
and the Council. The High Representative represents the EU for matters relating to the CFSP. He conducts political
with third parties on the EU’s behalf and expresses the EU’s position in international
and at international conferences. In fulfilling his mandate, the High Representative is assisted by a European External Action
. This service works in cooperation with the diplomatic services of the Member States and comprises officials from relevant departments of the General Secretariat of the
and of the
as well as staff seconded from national diplomatic services of the Member States. The organization and functioning of the European External Action
is established by a decision of the
. The Council acts on a proposal from the High Representative after consulting the
and after obtaining the consent of the Commission. Pursuant to Article 28 TEU, where the international situation requires operational action by the EU, the Council adopts the necessary
that lay down their objectives, scope, the means to be made available to the EU, if necessary their duration, and the conditions for their implementation. Such decisions commit the Member States in the positions they adopt and in the conduct of their activity. According to Article 29 TEU, the
adopts decisions which define the approach of the EU to a particular matter of a geographical or thematic nature. Member States must ensure that their national policies conform to the EU positions. Article 30 TEU authorizes the High Representative, of his own motion, or at the request of a
, to convene an extraordinary Council meeting within
hours or, in an emergency, within a shorter period, in cases requiring a rapid decision. Article 31 TEU sets the principle that the
and the Council act unanimously, except where the Treaties provide otherwise. When abstaining in a vote, any member of the Council may qualify its abstention by making a formal
. If this is the case, it shall not be obliged to apply the decision, but shall accept that the decision commits the EU. In a spirit of mutual solidarity, the
concerned shall refrain from any action likely to conflict with or impede EU action based on that decision and the other Member States shall respect its position. If the members of the
qualifying their abstention in this way represent at least one third of the Member States comprising at least
of the population of the EU, the decision shall not be adopted. By derogation, the Council acts by qualified majority: when adopting a decision defining a EU action or position on the basis of a decision of the
relating to the EU’s strategic interests and objectives (Article 22 (1) TEU); when adopting a decision defining a EU's action or position, on a proposal which the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has presented following a specific request from the European Council, made on its own initiative or that of the High Representative; when adopting any decision implementing a decision defining a EU's action or position; when appointing a special representative (Article 33). If a member of the
declares that, for vital and stated reasons of national policy, it intends to oppose the adoption of a decision to be taken by qualified majority, a vote shall not be taken. The High Representative will, in close consultation with the Member State involved, search for a solution acceptable to it. If he does not succeed, the
may, acting by a qualified majority, request that the matter be referred to the European Council for a decision by unanimity. The European Council may unanimously adopt a decision stipulating that the
shall act by a qualified majority in other cases. These paragraphs do not apply to decisions having military or
implications. For procedural questions, the
acts by a majority of its members. According to Article 32 TEU, Member States consult one another within the
and the Council on any matter of foreign and security policy of general interest in order to determine a common approach. When the
or the Council has defined a common approach of the EU within the afore meaning, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Member States coordinate their activities within the
. The diplomatic missions of the Member States and the EU delegations in third
and at international organizations cooperate and contribute to formulating and implementing the common approach. Article 33 TEU allows the
, on a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, appoint a special representative with a mandate in relation to particular policy issues. The special representative carries out his mandate under the authority of the High Representative. Member States represented in international
or international conferences where not all the Member States participate, keep the other Member States and the High Representative informed of any matter of common interest. Member States who are also members of the United Nations
Council will concert and keep the other Member States and the High Representative fully informed. Member States which are members of the
Council must, in the execution of their functions, defend the positions and the interests of the EU, without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations Charter. When the EU has defined a position on a subject which is on the United Nations
Council agenda, those Member States which sit on the
Council must request that the High Representative be invited to present the EU’s position. According to Article 35 TEU, the diplomatic and
missions of the Member States and the EU delegations in third countries and international conferences, and their representations to international organizations, must cooperate in ensuring that decisions defining EU's positions and actions are complied with and implemented. Article 36 TEU requires the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to regularly consult the
on the main aspects and the basic choices of the CFSP and the CSDP and inform it of how those policies evolve. He must ensure that the views of the
are duly taken into consideration. The
may address questions or make recommendations to the
or the High Representative. Twice a year it must hold a debate on progress in implementing the CFSP, including the CSDP. Pursuant to Article 38 TEU, a
shall monitor the international situation in the areas covered by the CFSP and contribute to the definition of policies by delivering opinions to the Council at the request of the Council or of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy or on its own initiative. It also monitors the
of agreed policies, without prejudice to the powers of the High Representative. The Political and Security Committee also politically controls and strategically directs, under the responsibility of the
and of the High Representative, the crisis management operations. The Council may authorize the Political and Security Committee, for the purpose and for the duration of a crisis management operation, as determined by the Council, to take the relevant decisions concerning the political control and strategic direction of the operation.
The following principles characterize the relationship between the CFSP and other areas of EU: implementation of the CFSP does not affect the application of the procedures and the extent of the powers of the EU
under Articles 3-6 TFEU. Implementation of the policies referred to in Articles 3-6 TFEU do not affect the application of the procedures and the extent of the powers of the EU institutions under
.