EU Institutions
European External
Action Service
The EU's diplomatic corps — a network of 145+ delegations worldwide, coordinating the Union's foreign policy under the HR/VP's "double hat" leadership.
Key Facts
Full name
European External Action Service
Established
1 December 2010 (Treaty of Lisbon)
Head
High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy / VP of the Commission (HR/VP)
Current HR/VP
Kaja Kallas (since December 2024)
Headquarters
Brussels, Belgium
Delegations
~145 delegations and offices worldwide
Staff
~5,000 officials (Brussels + delegations)
Legal status
Sui generis — functions as EU diplomatic service, independent of Commission and Council
The "Double Hat"
The HR/VP Role
The High Representative wears two hats simultaneously — serving both the Council (on CFSP) and the Commission (as VP). This institutional bridge was designed to improve foreign policy coherence but can create tensions between intergovernmental and supranational logics.
As HR for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy
Reports to
Council of the EU
Chairs
Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)
Mandate
Conducts the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy
As Vice-President of the Commission
Reports to
European Commission
Chairs
Group of Commissioners for External Action
Mandate
Ensures consistency of EU external action
Core Functions
EU Diplomacy
Runs the EU's diplomatic network — 145+ delegations act as EU "embassies" worldwide, representing the EU to third countries and international organisations.
CFSP / CSDP Support
Supports the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy by providing analysis, planning, and implementation capacity.
Crisis Response
Coordinates EU responses to international crises through the Crisis Response Centre (CRC) — operational 24/7.
Development Cooperation
Works with the Commission (DG DEVCO/DG INTPA) on EU development aid and humanitarian policies.
Strategic Communications
Combats disinformation through task forces like East StratCom and monitors foreign information manipulation.
Multilateral Forums
Represents the EU in international organisations such as the UN, WTO, NATO (coordination), and G7/G20.
Structure
Organisational Chart
Click any node to explore the EEAS structure and global delegation network.
EEAS — Diplomatic Structure
Click a node to exploreSelect a node to see details
AD5 Exam Tip
What the Exam Tests
- →The EEAS was created by the Treaty of Lisbon (2009), operational from December 2010.
- →The HR/VP "double hat": simultaneously chairs the Foreign Affairs Council AND is a VP of the Commission.
- →EU Delegations replaced the old Commission delegations after Lisbon — they represent the entire EU, not just the Commission.
- →CFSP is intergovernmental (unanimity in the Council) — the EEAS serves this but doesn't override member states' bilateral diplomacy.
- →Kaja Kallas (Estonia) is HR/VP since December 2024 — first from a CEE/Baltic state.