CFSP/Ashton Controlled by Commission

[James1:12]

http://euobserver.com/18/115145

The commission also has part-control of three crisis management and pro-democracy funds - the so-called EIDHR, IfS and CFSP, worth €1 billion.

Ashton proposes EIDHR and IfS projects - then Piebalgs' people take over and draft the final blueprints, while keeping EEAS staff "fully informed" and inviting them to their meetings. Ashton also proposes CFSP projects, but a commission office - the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments [FPI] - writes the assessment study used by EU countries to decide which ones go forward and drafts the final blueprint.

Atop this, commission officials oversee how Ashton's service spends its own €500-million-a-year budget.

Michael Mann said the process takes one week. "It takes about a month and this is supposed to be our fastest instrument," the head of delegation noted.

The contact added that there is a split between the EEAS, which wants to use development aid to support political goals, and Piebalgs' people, who take a "Biblical" view of helping the poor.

[James1:12]

Championing a Biblical perspective in the Commission - Andris Piebalgs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andris_Piebalgs

Piebalgs underlined the need to take advantage of the creation of the post of a foreign policy High Representative and External Action Service, without, however "allowing development policy to be seen in any way as simply a tool to achieve wider political goals for the EU". He also stressed the need "to maintain the EU's role as a champion of the developing world."