France Moves to Curb EU Diplomatic Chief's Powers, Kallas Pushes Back

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas is set to meet France's Foreign Minister for bilateral talks after reports that Paris has been pushing to curtail the powers of her office. The meeting is taking place on the sidelines of a Two-State Solution Conference on Israel and Palestine hosted by France — the event that brought Kallas to Paris amid reported institutional friction over the High Representative's role.

France is seeking to reduce the powers of the High Representative's office, the Financial Times reported. Kallas stated that her role is inscribed in the treaties of the European Union, EuroNews reported. France operates the EU's largest bilateral diplomatic network — 163 embassies, 16 permanent representations, 113 consular sections, and 92 consulates general — and the European External Action Service runs more than 140 EU delegations worldwide alongside it.

That overlap creates obvious institutional pressure points. Kallas has been credited with raising the High Representative's profile since taking office, pressing EU member states toward more unified positions on external affairs and security policy. Whether that is seen as strengthening EU diplomacy or encroaching on national prerogatives depends on which capital you ask.

The name of the French Foreign Minister expected to meet Kallas has not been published in the available reporting on the talks. How Paris and the EU institutions resolve the question of the High Representative's powers will shape the coherence of European foreign policy going forward.