Kaja Kallas opposes German plan to reform EU diplomatic service

A dispute is emerging within the European Union regarding the future structure of its diplomatic apparatus. Germany and France are advocating for a major reform of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to create a more coordinated and faster foreign policy system.

The German proposal suggests integrating a significant portion of the EEAS—which employs approximately 5,000 staff—directly into the European Commission. While this plan could expand Kaja Kallas's authority in specific areas like development and neighborhood policy, it would also place her under the direct supervision of the Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.

Kaja Kallas has resisted these plans, arguing that the current institutional framework does not need to be dismantled and that the primary issue lies in implementation rather than treaties. She contends that such a move would effectively weaken the EEAS in its current form, potentially reverting the EU's diplomatic structure to a state seen prior to the Lisbon Treaty.