Key facts
- EU High Representative Kaja Kallas defended the European External Action Service (EEAS) in an email to its 5,000 staff.
- A French government discussion paper suggested radical reforms for the EEAS, including placing it entirely under the European Commission's authority.
- Kallas stated the EEAS provides significant "added value" to the EU, particularly in the context of the war in Europe.
- The French paper's proposals were confirmed by POLITICO but do not represent an official French government position.
- Kallas welcomed the discussion on reform, emphasizing the need for institutional effectiveness amid geopolitical challenges.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's chief diplomat, has issued a strong defense of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in response to a French government discussion paper that proposed radical reforms, including potentially shutting down the service or bringing it entirely under the European Commission's control.
In an email to the EEAS's 5,000 staff, Kallas asserted that the service provides crucial "added value" to the bloc, especially given the ongoing war in Europe. She acknowledged that discussions about the EEAS's relationship with the Commission and member states are natural, particularly in light of "unprecedented geopolitical challenges."
The French document, which does not reflect an official government stance according to an EU diplomat, outlined three reform options: full integration into the Commission, shifting functions to the Council of the EU, or bolstering the High Representative's role. These proposals emerge amid long-standing criticisms from national capitals and EU officials regarding the EU's diplomatic service being slow, dysfunctional, and engaged in turf wars with the Commission.
Kallas welcomed the debate on reform, stating it stems from a shared commitment to ensuring EU institutions deliver maximum impact for citizens. However, she also stressed that the roles and responsibilities of EU institutions are clearly defined by the treaties and that this framework remains unchanged. The organization and functioning of the EEAS are established by a Council decision, as per the Lisbon Treaty.
Kallas indicated that she would discuss reform ideas further at an informal gathering of EU foreign ministers following the summer break.