02/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Citizens' Initiative, EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights and the establishment of a European External Action Service (EEAS) will be the main priorities of the Spanish EU Presidency, said Carlos Fernandez Arias Minuez, Spain's permanent representative to the EU, speaking on Wednesday 2 December before the European Security and Defence Assembly (ESDA) of the WEU. The Spanish Presidency will define the procedures for the initiative provided for in the Lisbon Treaty (Article 11§4), which grants European citizens the right to ask the European Commission to bring forward new proposals (on condition that the request is made by one million citizens from different member states). Spain wants during its term of office to open negotiations with the Council of Europe on accession to the convention, he said, acknowledging that this would be a difficult issue. The ambassador stated that Spain wanted “a strong EEAS which will provide appropriate technical support to the higher representative”. He also said that the Spanish Presidency would try to make this service operational as soon as possible. (A.By./transl.jl)