1. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who shall chair the Foreign Affairs Council, shall contribute through his proposals to the development of the common foreign and security policy and shall ensure implementation of the decisions adopted by the European Council and the Council.

In the event that the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force later than 1 January 2009, the Conference requests the competent authorities of the Member State holding the six-monthly Presidency of the Council at that time, on the one hand, and the person elected President of the European Council and the person appointed High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the other hand, to take the necessary specific measures, in consultation with the following six-monthly Presidency, to allow an efficient handover ...[+++] of the material and organisational aspects of the Presidency of the European Council and of the Foreign Affairs Council.

This provides for an official who would be responsible for external affairs in the Union, given the highly meaningful title of ‘minister’, supported by European diplomatic activity and wearing not two hats, as has been said, but three: that of High Representative for CFSP, that of Vice-President of the Commission for External Relations and that of President-in-Office of the ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council of Ministers. This piling on of responsibilities will cause .

The fact that the Vice-President of the Commission, responsible for external relations, chairs the Council of Foreign Ministers does not, however, apparently raise objections on anyone’s part.

24. Welcomes the suggested setting up of the European Security Research Advisory Board (ESRAB); considers that, given the current lack of a policy formulation superstructure, the need exists for clearer information on whether the Advisory Board will prove adequate and whether it will be ready to advise effectively on the content of security research and to address operational problems relating to programmes; underlines that the European Parliament should be represented in the ESRAB by five members, including the Chairmen of the responsible Committees (the Committee on Foreign Affairs ...[+++], the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) or their representatives;

The Commission supports other initiatives involving the direct participation of the private sector, such as the Business Advisory Council.