The EEAS in Multilateral Fora: Impact on EU Coherence at the UN General Assembly

The European External Action Service (EEAS) should coordinate the Union external action and, thus, enhance coherence in the EU’s participation in multilateral fora. This article verifies the EEAS’ practical impact on EU voting cohesion and unity of representation in multilateral fora over its first ten years of existence, through an analysis of empirical data regarding the EU’s performance at the UN General Assembly. The data suggest that the EEAS has not had a significant impact on EU Member States’ voting cohesion. However, the EEAS has promoted unity in the EU’s international representation: indeed, EU delegations – which are part of the EEAS – have become the main Union representatives at the UN General Assembly and their representative role is unchallenged by EU institutions and Member States. Despite the persisting divisions in EU foreign policy, the EEAS is likely to ensure an effective Union representation in multilateral fora in the future.