Key facts
- France is advocating for strengthening the role of the EU's top diplomat and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
- Germany's position is less fixed, with some officials suggesting diluting the diplomat's powers and giving them to the European Commission.
- Both France and Germany agree that the EU's foreign policy structure needs reform to be more assertive on the global stage.
- The debate between Paris, Berlin, and Brussels reflects the challenges facing the EEAS since its launch in 2011.
- France has presented a discussion paper outlining reform scenarios, aiming for changes before the 2027 French presidential election.
France and Germany, the European Union's two most influential member states, are pushing for significant reforms to the bloc's foreign policy apparatus, the European External Action Service (EEAS), but hold differing views on the direction of change.
France is advocating for a strengthened role for the EU's top diplomat and the EEAS itself, according to officials familiar with the matter. This approach aligns with the current diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who is from the same political family as French President Emmanuel Macron. France has invested heavily in the EEAS since its inception and sees its strengthening as crucial for projecting EU influence.
Germany's position is less defined, with some officials reportedly floating the idea of diluting the top diplomat's powers and reallocating them to the European Commission. This reflects a broader debate about institutional roles and responsibilities within the EU's foreign policy framework.
Both Paris and Berlin agree on the urgency of reform, citing the increasing assertiveness of global powers like the U.S. and China and the fragmentation of EU policymaking. The EEAS currently oversees foreign and security policy, but the Commission controls many of the policy instruments and financial resources needed for external influence, leading to a perceived fragmentation.
France has outlined its reform ideas in a discussion paper, suggesting a timeline that concludes before the 2027 French presidential election. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for quicker decision-making, potentially through qualified majority voting, and closer integration between the EEAS and the Commission.
Discussions on these reforms are ongoing, with EU foreign ministers set to delve into the issue in September. The outcome will depend on the agreement of EU leaders and potentially a proposal put forth by Kallas herself.