Brussels, 08/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The three Benelux countries this week sent a memo to member states and to the Commission in which they set out their joint position on several key points for the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. In the document published in full in our series EUROPE/Documents number 2524, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg say that “it is more necessary than ever to ensure, once the Treaty of Lisbon has entered into force, the inclusive, orderly and transparent nature of the decision-making process, and to guarantee the maintenance of the Community method and the institutional balance of the Union that have been the basis of the success if European integration”. The three countries say that, even if the European Council becomes an “institution”, it should continue to be prepared by the General Affairs Council and specialist Councils in order to “ensure a transparent and inclusive preparation” of EU policies. The new full-time President must, they say, have the stature of a head of state or government, be someone “who listens to the member states and the institutions” and be “sensitive to the institutional balance that corresponds to the Community method”. EU external policy must be determined by the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), chaired by the High Representative (HR). However, the three Benelux countries say, “to ensure broad support for the CFSP, it is important to guarantee the responsibility, involvement and visibility of the member states' foreign ministers”. The six-monthly Presidency of the EU must also be involved, notably in drafting FAC provisional agendas. To ensure that the EU speaks with a single voice, the HR, the President of the European Council and the rotating Presidency must consult regularly, especially in periods of crisis. “The HR must therefore have not only vast experience of Community action in the framework of the CFSP/CSDP and of the Union's external policy, but also consensus-building skills,” the three say. The European External Action Service (EEAS) should be put in place “step-by-step”, but its remit should be clearly defined from the very outset and should indicate the final objective to be attained. A rendez-vous clause should also be included so that there can be assessment of how well the EEAS is working after a number of years of operation. It should be possible to amend the EEAS mandate, if this is felt necessary, after the evaluation, the Benelux countries say. (H.B./transl.rt)