To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the likely annual cost to the UK of the external action service as proposed in the Lisbon Treaty. (183926)

[holding answer 1 February 2008]: The Lisbon Treaty provides for a European External Action Service (EEAS) which will bring together staff currently working on external issues in the European Council Secretariat and the European Commission, along with secondees from EU member states. The EEAS will be launched only after the Treaty comes into force.

There have not yet been any discussions on the detailed organisation and functioning of the EEAS.