EU diplomatic service may be ready in December

Officials working on the creation of the EU's diplomatic service believe it could be on its feet by 1 December, a symbolic date marking the first anniversary of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, but several months later than the original timetable.

The lengthy delay has been due to the difficulties of getting agreement from all the different sides - member states, the European Commission and MEPs - on the new body, which is meant to give coherency to EU foreign policy.

Th...