The Lisbon Treaty foresees the set-up of a European External Action Service (EEAS), which is causing a strong debate about the tasks of this new diplomatic service. Mirjam van Reisen underlines in an article in European Voice that the EU's new diplomatic service must not seize powers that have always been in the hands of the Commission and EU governments. The Lisbon Treaty, which clearly distinguishes between sensitive intergovernmental policies (security, defence, foreign policy) and consensual Community policies (development and humanitarian aid, trade) that are implemented by the Commission with European Parliament oversight. Ms Van Reisen argues that a mixing of the intergovernmental and community policy areas would weaken the accountability of the diplomatic service and should therefore be avoided.