Brussels: European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas this week defended the bloc’s diplomatic service amid growing discussions among member states about possible reforms to the EU’s foreign policy architecture, according to an internal email.
The debate centers on the future of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the role of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as governments seek ways to make the EU more effective in responding to mounting geopolitical challenges.
In her message to staff, Kallas acknowledged that the relationship between the EEAS, the European Commission and EU member states has long been a subject of discussion, but argued that renewed scrutiny reflects the increasingly complex international environment.
“The relationship between the EEAS, the Commission and member states has been discussed since the service was established. Given the unprecedented geopolitical challenges we face, it is only natural that these discussions attract renewed attention and take on greater intensity,” Kallas wrote.
The comments come as France leads efforts to examine potential reforms to the EU’s diplomatic machinery. A discussion paper circulated among member states reportedly outlines three possible scenarios for restructuring the bloc’s foreign policy framework.
One option would transfer significant foreign policy responsibilities from the High Representative to the European Commission, reducing the influence of the EU’s chief diplomat. Another would strengthen the role of the European Council by giving member states a more direct operational role in managing external relations.
A third proposal would move in the opposite direction by expanding the authority of the High Representative and increasing oversight of strategic policy areas such as trade and other portfolios with geopolitical significance.
Kallas appeared to push back against suggestions that would weaken her office, emphasizing that the powers and responsibilities of EU institutions are defined by the bloc’s treaties.
EU officials quoted by Euronews noted that any substantial institutional reform would require treaty changes, a prospect that is not currently being seriously considered. As a result, diplomats believe major changes are unlikely in the near term.
According to officials, discussions about reforming the EEAS have circulated for some time but have gained momentum following the opening of the service’s top administrative post, secretary-general, creating what some describe as an institutional transition period.
Any future restructuring is also expected to be linked to negotiations over the EU’s next seven-year budget framework, although diplomats consider it unlikely that a significant overhaul could be completed before the next legislative cycle.
The EEAS is reportedly preparing its own set of reform proposals, with an initial ministerial-level discussion expected during the informal Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Ireland on September 2.
Kallas is also scheduled to meet French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday, in a meeting arranged before the reform paper became public and coinciding with a French-led conference on a two-state solution for the Middle East conflict.
The debate highlights broader questions about who should shape the EU’s foreign policy in an increasingly volatile global environment and whether the bloc’s existing institutions remain fit for purpose.
