Kallas faces loss of key foreign policy powers under Franco-German EU plan

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas could lose significant powers under a Franco-German plan to overhaul the bloc’s diplomatic service and transfer many of its responsibilities to the European Commission.

France and Germany, the EU’s two largest powers, have proposed scaling back the European External Action Service (EEAS), which is currently headed by Kallas, and bringing much of its work under the Commission’s control. The proposal comes amid growing criticism that the EU’s diplomatic structure is inefficient and has struggled to respond effectively to international crises, Financial Times reports.

Under the plan, responsibilities currently handled by the EEAS would be redistributed to relevant Commission departments, while Kallas could receive greater oversight of external policy within the Commission. This would nevertheless represent a significant change to her current role as head of the EU’s diplomatic service.

Areas linked to the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including peacekeeping missions and the bloc’s military staff, would remain outside the Commission under the Franco-German proposal.

France and Germany had earlier called for options to reform the EEAS to be developed by the end of the year and urged EU leaders to discuss the issue at a forthcoming summit.

Any major changes to the EU’s foreign policy structure would require the approval of the bloc’s member states. The European Commission has confirmed that discussions on reform are underway.

By Sabina Mammadli