THE EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE CAN DO BETTER A»Geopolitical Commission« should seek a deeper understanding of the political role of the EEAS and resolve to work more closely together as needs dictate. Furthermore, on certain issues the EEAS should come up with more convincing reasons to encourage an overly cautious Commission to act. As a big institutional machine, the Commission has shown itself to be prone to overly careful planning, thereby delaying, under various pretexts, the negotiation of certain agreements(FTAs, partnership cooperation agreements, etc.). With certain relationships, this has either exacerbated political sensitivities or contributed to missed opportunities(Mercosur, ASEAN, China). Finally, the EEAS can and needs to become more incisive and assertive in promoting value-oriented foreign policy, at times perhaps with a license to be»less diplomatic«. The usual practice has shown that in many places in third countries, it has frequently been the case that, confronted with infringements of human rights or other principles, the resident EU Member States' embassies, mindful to avoid souring the mood of their own bilateral relations with local authorities, have preferred to ask the resident EU Delegation and the EU Ambassador to take critical positions publicly –»on behalf of the EU«, of course. 17