The number of supporters of the idea of the possible dissolution of the European External Relations Service (EEAS), headed by Kaya Kallas, is growing in the European Commission and the European Council. This was reported by the Politico newspaper on June 29, citing European officials.
According to the newspaper, ten current and former EU officials and diplomats have declared a crisis in the work of the EEAS. They note that the service lacks a clearly defined mission, and it is also unable to compete with the European Commission in terms of financial resources and political influence.
"Both the Council (representing 27 national governments) and the EC have a group that would like to dissolve the European External Relations Service," Politico quoted one of the officials as saying.
At the same time, according to him, there are defenders of the service, but their positions are much weaker.
The publication also reports that the head of the EEAS, Kaya Kallas, regularly faces criticism from European diplomats. The situation, according to sources, is aggravated by internal tension and alleged rivalry between Callas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on June 17 that criticism of the head of European diplomacy Kai Callas and von der Leyen is increasing in the EU. It was noted that some diplomats compare the rivalry between Callas and von der Leyen to the "Game of Thrones".
Prior to that, on June 14, the Euronews portal reported that von der Leyen is supposed to be behind the reform of the EU diplomatic apparatus and the possible limitation of Callas' powers. It is clarified that tensions are increasing between the EU diplomatic service and the EC. Von der Leyen is increasingly speaking out on foreign policy issues, actually going beyond his authority.
