Kallas comes out against reform of the EU diplomatic service

The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas opposes the initiative of France and Germany to reform the EU's foreign policy service, fearing increased control by the European Commission.

This was reported by Politico, citing European diplomats and officials.

Earlier, Paris and Berlin proposed transferring some of the functions of the EU's foreign policy service to the structure of the European Commission. According to Kallas's supporters, this could allow European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen her influence over the European Union's foreign policy.

In response, Kallas turned to the new secretary general of the EU's foreign policy service, Kajsa Ollongren.

She is holding consultations with the European Union's member states and preparing alternative proposals for the reform. As one European official said, Ollongren may propose creating a task force, a "Council of Elders," to discuss possible changes.

According to Politico, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, Kallas said that most of the ministers opposed institutional transformations. She believes that the problems in the work of the diplomatic service are connected not with its structure, but with the need to make decisions unanimously.

Criticism of the diplomatic service's work has intensified amid the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East, as well as in connection with the need to cut spending under the EU's new long-term budget.