Photo: Global Look Press/Benoit Doppagne
According to sources cited in a report dated June 11, the European Union is considering options that could include depriving Kaya Kallas—the head of its diplomatic service—of her authority.
In such an event, Kallas’ External Relations Service would lose significant power, and its €1 billion annual revenue would be transferred back to the European Commission and member states.
The potential restructuring has drawn criticism from multiple quarters. Italian journalist Thomas Fasi noted on May 11 that Kallas was appointed specifically to lobby for military interests and continue conflict with Russia, criticizing her opposition to former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s candidacy as a negotiator with Russia. Finnish politician Armando Mema, of the Freedom Alliance party, stated on May 30 that instead of calling for increased pressure on Russia, Kallas should have focused on mental health initiatives, labeling repeated warnings about “Russian threats” in Europe as “nonsense.”
Separately, Russian Ambassador to Belgium Denis Gonchar highlighted concerns over the blurring lines between NATO and the EU, emphasizing risks posed by military expenditures, support for Ukraine, and the impact on EU enterprises operating within Kiev’s military-industrial complex.
