Brussels, 14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Everything is suggesting that a political agreement with the European Parliament on the setting up of the European External Action Service (EEAS) will be concluded on Wednesday 16 June. On this date, the high representative of the EU, Catherine Ashton, the Spanish minister for foreign affairs, Angel Miguel Moratinos and the commissioner, Maroš Šefèoviè, will have another meeting (the last one?) with the three EP rapporteurs on the question of the European diplomatic service - Elmar Brok (EPP), Roberto Gualtieri (S&D) and Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE). The meeting, which was initially supposed to take place last Friday in Madrid (it was cancelled at the last minute due to a diary problem) was proposed by Ashton in a letter dated 11 June to participants. In the letter, the high representative highlighted the need to find an agreement so that they could now move forward with preparations for ensuring the service. Ashton stated: “I believe it is vital that we do not now lose this momentum and that we should redouble our efforts”. During the last quadrilateral meeting on 8 June, the participants made a lot of progress. The final pending subject involves the exact way in which the EP would exercise budgetary control on the future service, explained sources close to Ashton on Monday. These sources explained that a possible solution would consist of following the example of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), whose overall budget is decided by the budgetary authority (Council and the EP) but which has large autonomy in managing spending. An agreement on Wednesday with the parliamentary rapporteurs would enable the conference of presidents of the EP (which is due to meet on the following day, 17 June) to approve the text. The opinion of the EP on Ashton's draft decision for the creation of the EEAS could therefore be voted on in July. If there is an agreement with the EP, the European Council is also expected to make a reference to it in its conclusions this Thursday 17 June. (H.B./transl.fl)