Ursula von der Leyen expands influence within EU – POLITICO

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is increasingly consolidating power and extending her influence into the defence sector, according to POLITICO.

The publication noted that the development of a key European security strategy—intended to define EU threats and priorities following the July NATO summit—has been assigned to a narrow circle of trusted advisers close to the Commission chief.

As a result, the EU’s diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS), which has traditionally been responsible for such initiatives, has been largely sidelined. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has also stated that he is not aware of the contents of the strategy being developed “at the highest level.”

According to the outlet, efforts by the European Commission to take a more dominant role in defence policy are raising concerns among EU member states.

The report added that the systematic appointment of loyal officials to politically sensitive positions reflects a broader trend of von der Leyen further centralising power within the European Commission, gradually reducing the role of alternative institutions, including the EU’s diplomatic service.

By Jeyhun Aghazada