(R E ) APPRAISING THE PURPOSE OF THE EEAS| 9 and operationalise the integrated approach that the EEAS purports to articulate and promote, bolstering the sense of a unified EU stance on the global stage. Such presence on the ground is particularly valuable for member states that do not have the same diplomatic coverage. It not only allows them a broader representation, though indirectly; it is also a cognitive resource on third countries that they would not directly access otherwise. EUDs thus contribute to developing the EEAS function as an information and situational awareness hub. EUDs also provide support for EEAS coordination and implementation tasks in the field, particularly in international fora, and the protection of and support for EU citizens abroad. The EEAS’ representative function on the ground is, at that level too, highly dependent on the goodwill of other key protagonists it serves, be they member states or EU institutions and particularly the Commission, from whom the network has been inherited and whose staff remains a critical component of EUDs. The EEAS is expected to represent the Union in the world and to be the first port of call for both domestic interlocutors and other international representatives in the field. Permitting EU delegations effectively to perform their duties depends on the Union’s foreign policy protagonists’ trust and assets. In sum As noted by HRVP Federica Mogherini: “All these goals can only be achieved by a truly united and committed Europe. Joining all our cultures together to achieve our shared goals and serve our common interests is a daily challenge, but it is also our greatest strength: diversity is what makes us strong” (Foreword, EU Global Strategy, 2016). The EEAS’ focal task is to add value by relying on its core assets, especially the integrated approach, the involvement of national diplomats, a formidable network of delegations around the world, and a single intelligence analysis capacity. Fast-evolving demands require innovative diplomatic ways, which the Service can provide, given its specific features. Now is time to clarify the EEAS’ role to help the Union become the(geo)political actor that it is increasingly expected to be. The hitherto indeterminate nature of the Service’s mission may indeed play to its advantage by making it easier for it to adapt to and deliver on new expectations, and ultimately to craft its own brand of diplomacy. Similarly, its hybrid character and structural dependence on other protagonists, though a handicap in terms of forging its own identity and esprit de corps, offer opportunities to exert thought leadership and build coherence across the whole EU foreign policy machinery. This, in turn, should bolster the EEAS’ ability to support the HRVP in representing a‘whole-of-Europe’ approach to the world. Fulfilling this potential requires addressing the lessons learned over the past ten years.