N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column
The Financial Times published the sensational news, that proposals for a radical overhaul of the European External Action Service, the EU’s diplomatic service, are being discussed. Berlin, Paris and other EU capitals would like to strip powers from the EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas and her EEAS to improve the EU’s response to geopolitical crises. When asked, the French foreign ministry confirmed that there is a discussion about the future of the EEAS. A German official said: ‘In a changing world, we need a stronger EU and a stronger foreign policy arm’.
It is clear that there is too much overlap and a lack of co-ordination between the EEAS, the foreign ministries of the member states and the external relations directorates of the Commission and Council. One of the ideas, the FT records, is indeed to move EEAS powers to directorates of the Commission and Council; drafting sanctions and proposals for military missions could be shifted to the Council, while the daily diplomacy could be done by the Commission.
Playing a role in the background, are the continuing fights between the EEAS and the Commission of Ursula von der Leyen over who has primacy over foreign issues. The Commission President often takes the lead on the EU’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. And it seems she has explored setting up an intelligence-sharing unit similar to one that already exists within the EEAS.
It doesn’t make the situation any easier that Kaja Kallas often speaks her own mind on issues such as EU-China and the Gaza conflict. Setting herself up as the EU negotiator in possible Ukraine-Russia talks also raised eyebrows. Kallas is well known for her rabid anti-Russia attitude.
The debate is fundamental and a continuing heavy internal tension within the institutions and between the leaders is the last thing the EU needs as it faces so many dire external challenges.
