The French document, which POLITICO has confirmed the contents of, highlights ongoing criticism from national capitals and EU officials regarding the slow-moving, dysfunctional nature of EU diplomacy, exacerbated by a turf war between the EEAS and the Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen.
An EU diplomat stated that the paper was an internal document not approved by the French foreign minister or his aides, and does not represent an official French stance. First reported by the Financial Times and Reuters, the document outlines three reform options for the EEAS: bringing it under the Commission’s authority, transferring key functions to the Council of the EU, and strengthening Kallas’ role.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot previously expressed the need for a stronger EU diplomatic service in a speech.
‘Unprecedented geopolitical challenges’
Problems at the EEAS are frequently discussed among ambassadors and should signal a warning to Kallas about her management, according to an EU diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Kallas, former Estonian prime minister and EU chief diplomat since 2024, welcomed the reform debate in her email, noting that discussions about the relationship between the EEAS, the Commission, and Member States have existed since the Service’s inception. She emphasized the need for these conversations due to geopolitical challenges.
Kallas remarked that the debate indicates a shared commitment to ensuring the effectiveness of EU institutions for citizens. However, she stressed that the roles and responsibilities of EU institutions remain defined by the treaties, which have not changed. While her High Representative role is mentioned in the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, the organisation and functioning of the EEAS are determined by a Council decision.
Kallas plans to discuss reform ideas at an informal foreign ministers’ meeting after the summer.
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