Suggestion for amendment of Article 5

Suggestions for amendments to the text of the Articles of the Treaty

AMENDMENT FORM

Suggestion for amendment of Article 5: Part II - Title B

By: Mrs Sandra Kalniete, Mr Roberts Zile, Mrs Liene Liepina, Mr Rihards Piks, Mr Arturs Krisjanis Karins, Mr Guntars Krasts.

Article 5

1. The Minister for Foreign Affairs External Representative of the European Union, who shall chair the Foreign Affairs Council, shall contribute through his proposals towards the preparation of the common foreign and security policy and shall be responsible for implementing the decisions taken by the European Council and the Council.
   
2. For matters relating to the common foreign and security policy, the Union shall be represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs External Representative of the European Union, who shall conduct the political dialogue on the Union's behalf and shall express the Union's position in international organisations and at international conferences.

Explanation (if any):

By vesting powers of the representing of the Commission-s external policies, the leading of the Foreign Affairs Council and the sharing of the rights of initiative with the member states in the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the External Representative of the European Union would be overloaded with duties and responsibilities, thus undermining the practical implementation of them.

The Foreign Affairs Council should be chaired by the member states.