France, Germany propose EU foreign policy overhaul

France and Germany are spearheading an effort to reform the European Union's foreign policy operations, with proposals aimed at enhancing the influence of EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas. The plan, detailed in a paper from Paris and Berlin, seeks to integrate certain functions of the European External Action Service (EEAS) into the European Commission.

This initiative comes amid broader discussions about the EU's global standing, driven by geopolitical shifts, the rise of AI, and pressure to reduce the EU's long-term budget. The proposals reportedly include weakening the EEAS by transferring some of its approximately 5,000 staff and functions to the Commission, a move intended to streamline operations and address financial constraints.

The Franco-German paper is expected to be a key topic when EU foreign ministers convene in Wicklow, Ireland. However, the proposed institutional changes face skepticism from some diplomats who deem major reforms unrealistic before the end of Ursula von der Leyen's second term in 2029. An EU official noted that effective EU foreign policy relies on member state consensus, suggesting that structural shifts alone may not resolve complex international issues.

Kallas herself has initiated a consultation process, distributing a questionnaire to member states to gather views on how the EU can become a more assertive global actor, optimize its delegations, streamline its institutional setup, and better contribute to leadership discussions. However, she intends to defer significant actions until her new leadership team, including incoming Secretary-General Kajsa Ollongren, is fully in place.