Inside Kallas’ fightback against plans to tear up the EU’s diplomatic service
Senior officials working for the foreign policy chief are sounding out capitals for ideas on how to reform the EEAS without drastic changes to its makeup.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union's chief diplomat, is vigorously fighting against Franco-German plans to revamp her diplomatic service. Kallas is reaching out to other capitals and utilizing a new secretary-general, Kajsa Ollongren, to devise alternative reform plans. According to EU officials, Kallas' strategy involves convincing EU governments that the bloc's foreign policy issues stem from the unanimous decision-making rules and poor implementation of its treaties, rather than from the current institutional setup.
The ongoing conflict arises as the 15-year-old European External Action Service (EEAS) faces criticism for being unfit for purpose during a time of crisis, including Russia's war against Ukraine, Donald Trump's demands on Europe, Middle East conflict, and a more confrontational China. The EU Commission is also expanding its role in foreign policy, while Berlin seeks to cut EU operating costs amid negotiations over the bloc's next long-term budget.
Kallas' allies are apprehensive that an overhaul intended to make EU foreign policy more effective could give the Commission greater control over the EEAS. Ollongren, the new EEAS secretary-general, has been touring EU capitals to discuss reform proposals with national governments. Ollongren will brief EEAS staff on her findings at a town hall meeting with the EEAS, where Kallas will formally introduce her.
Kallas and her allies fear that the Franco-German plans, which include moving EEAS staff into the EU executive, could allow the Commission to exert greater control over the foreign policy machinery.
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