Juhansone, a former Latvian ambassador and the current top EU official at the European Commission, is considered a close ally of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her chief of staff, Bjoern Seibert.
If Juhansone secures the highest position at the European External Action Service (EEAS), it could be interpreted as a consolidation of power by von der Leyen, known for her centralized, top-down leadership style. However, this development would also mean that, alongside Kaja Kallas, there would be another key figure from the Baltic region shaping EU foreign policy. This scenario has raised concerns among some EU governments.
Strained Dynamics
The role held by Kallas, officially titled EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, is particularly challenging. Though the High Representative is one of the European Commission’s 27 commissioners, the position straddles both the Commission and the European Council—which represents member states. This dual role entails managing the more than 2,500 staff members at the EEAS headquarters, along with approximately 2,800 employees stationed at EU delegations worldwide.
Kallas, who served as Estonia’s prime minister from 2021 to 2024, is both the youngest and the most senior figure to hold this critical position in EU diplomacy. Her recent appointment has already stirred controversy, with disputes emerging just a week into the tenure of the new EU leadership team.
Tensions are already brewing between the European Commission and the EEAS. The Commission is advocating for drastic reductions in staff across many of its embassies in order to reinforce staffing in strategic regions of interest, as POLITICO reported last week. This initiative comes amid the EEAS exceeding its 2024 budget, exacerbating strains in the early days of the new Commission’s five-year term.
The decision by Kallas is particularly contentious, highlighting divisions within EU institutions as the bloc navigates its evolving diplomatic landscape.
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