Tug of war
Italy wants EU governments to retain a firm grip on the bloc’s foreign policy as Brussels considers reforms to its diplomatic arm, reports Paola Tamma.
Context: Rome’s intervention follows a Franco-German push to reform the 16-year-old European External Action Service (EEAS), headed by Kaja Kallas, who currently has a double-hatted role answering to member states and the Commission.
Paris and Berlin have floated options including stripping Kallas of some competences and handing them back to the Commission.
The European Commission is also working on proposals on how to take back some of the EEAS’ core responsibilities, due by the end of the year.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has irked capitals by overstepping her foreign policy remit, diplomats say, including recently by floating “associate membership” for Canada and a “European Security Council”, which met resistance over concerns it would duplicate Nato.
But Rome wants reforms to strengthen national control over foreign policy and defence, “where close links with member states are essential to mobilise capabilities, assets and expertise”, according to a document seen by the FT.
The aim is to prevent a Commission power grab and preserve the EU’s institutional balance, diplomats said.
Italy suggests giving the High Representative the role of “clear second-in-command” in the Commission in charge of “external affairs and strategic co-ordinator for Commissioners/policies with external dimension”, including trade and foreign aid.
It also wants the EEAS, staffed roughly equally by EU officials and seconded national diplomats, to remain “genuinely rotational”, “preventing the emergence of a self-contained bureaucratic culture”.
A European Commission spokesperson confirmed discussions on EEAS reform were ongoing, citing the need to adapt the bloc’s foreign policy structures to geopolitical challenges and improve efficiency.