Treaty of Lisbon (No. 5)

I do not accept that those things are impossible to reconcile because they are doing different tasks. The treaty is clear about the limits on the ECJ's role, not least in respect of policy, but it recognises that the ECJ must have a consequential role in the two areas that I described. I am happy to correspond with the hon. Gentleman further about the issue—[Interruption.] It is suggested that I do not correspond with him further, but I would be happy to do so. The Lisbon treaty also establishes an external action service to support the high representative. It does not alter the responsibility of member states or the nature of CFSP decision making, but it will reorganise Commission and Council secretariat staff and include seconded staff from member states. All of this can deliver benefits in terms of more effective co-ordination. It will improve the policy advice to the Council by aligning EU external spending with the political priorities set by the member states in the Council. In post-conflict situations, it offers the chance to improve the EU's ability to deliver coherently by improving co-ordination of a range of conflict prevention, crisis management and stabilisation tools.