EU Member States Consider Reforms to European External Action Service
According to the report, France and Germany are among the countries driving discussions around reforms to the European External Action Service (EEAS) — the EU's diplomatic arm — amid deepening frustration over its perceived inability to respond effectively to an increasingly turbulent geopolitical landscape.
"It is clear that (the EEAS) doesn't work the way it should in today's world. It is dysfunctional," one official told the newspaper, calling for structural intervention.
The talks are unfolding against a backdrop of compounding crises: Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, escalating tensions involving Iran, and an unpredictable U.S. foreign policy posture under President Donald Trump, compounded by the growing weaponization of tariffs, economic coercion, and energy supplies as geopolitical tools.
Senior officials cited by the Financial Times said some member states believe excessive overlap between the EEAS, national foreign ministries, and the foreign affairs departments of EU institutions has created persistent coordination failures. One proposal reportedly under consideration would curtail Kallas' autonomy and reduce her direct control over the EU's network of more than 140 delegations worldwide.
Notably, the Financial Times reported that any restructuring could be executed without amending EU treaties — though unanimous backing from all 27 member states would still be required.
A spokesperson for Kallas pushed back, telling the Financial Times that she remains focused on strengthening both the EEAS and the European Commission, and that "the EU's foreign policy is strong when EU member states are united." The EEAS is also said to be conducting its own internal studies on potential reform options.
Stefan Lehne, a former EU official and senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, offered a blunt assessment of the institution's recent track record.
"If you look at the development of EU foreign policy over the past five years, it is quite clear that the results have not been positive," he told the newspaper. "There is a need to respond to the negative environment all around, and institutional change is one way to do this. It would be strange not to adjust the instruments and structure to the new reality that the EU faces today."
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