The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has suffered another setback as member states forced the cancellation of her latest initiative on European defence. The plan, announced just days earlier, would have created a high-level expert group to identify strategic investment gaps and propose ways to bolster the bloc's military capabilities.
On Sunday, the European External Action Service (EEAS) abruptly called off the launch of the group. An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Euronews: "Some member states felt this was not the right path to pursue at this moment." The decision came after Italy led the opposition, with France and several other countries also expressing reservations.
The episode highlights a recurring challenge for Kallas: pushing forward with ambitious ideas without first securing the political backing of the 27 national governments. Her role as High Representative depends on that support, especially from smaller member states that see her as a counterweight to the European Commission's growing influence in foreign affairs.
Diplomatic misstep
Italy's objection was personal. The proposed expert group included Roberta Pinotti, a former defence minister under the centre-left governments of Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni. Pinotti is seen as a major political opponent of the current Italian defence minister, Guido Crosetto, who leads a right-wing coalition. According to the Italian press agency ANSA, this inclusion was unacceptable to Rome.
France and other governments also complained that the initiative had not been discussed at ministerial level and had caught most capitals by surprise. The pressure was such that the EEAS had no choice but to withdraw the proposal.
Three EU officials, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, described the handling of the initiative as "mismanagement," "unfortunate," and "a f***-up," reflecting widespread frustration within the diplomatic service.
Sense of urgency vs. procedural caution
The EEAS had hoped to create a sense of urgency, aiming to accelerate efforts to fill Europe's defence capacity gaps and set a clear direction ahead of the Munich Security Conference in February. The US government is also preparing a troop review by the end of the year, adding to the pressure.
"Everyone agrees about the urgency of the topic, but the whole choreography was just a bit unfortunate," one EU diplomat said.
Yet the episode also reveals a deeper tension. The EEAS is frequently criticised for being inefficient, but when it tries to act swiftly, member states demand to be consulted—even on the composition of an advisory body. "As a former prime minister, she is underestimating how much member states want to be consulted on foreign policy matters," a second diplomat noted.
Pressure to reform
Kallas's position is under increasing challenge from Brussels and key European capitals. She has repeatedly clashed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over who controls the bloc's foreign policy. Von der Leyen has pursued what she calls a "geopolitical Commission," and relations with Israel have emerged as a flashpoint.
These personal and institutional clashes have fed into broader calls for reform. A recent Franco-German proposal suggested placing the EEAS under the Commission's remit, albeit with a strengthened portfolio. After an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland last week, Kallas pushed back, arguing that most member states support the current setup.
"The problem that was mentioned by many member states is that, if we then move everything to the Commission, then especially the small member states lose control of the foreign policy," Kallas said. "The member states were clear that they don't want to lose the steering wheel of the foreign policy."
Small countries' scepticism
Streamlining the bloc's external action under the Commission would likely mean that only the largest member states could meaningfully shape decisions. Kallas's role was designed to give every country a seat at the table, serving simultaneously as a Commission Vice-President and as the EU's High Representative following the political direction of member states.
Yet while small member states are currently shielding her institutional role from being absorbed into an all-powerful Commission, her latest blunder has managed to draw the ire of precisely that constituency. "The member states want to see the EEAS as a service for them, not as an institution with its own mind that takes initiatives that were not previously discussed," a third EU diplomat from a small country told Euronews.
This is not the first time Kallas has appeared to press forward without the necessary political backing. The pattern raises questions about her ability to navigate the delicate balance between leadership and consultation—a balance that will be crucial as the EU faces mounting security challenges and internal debates over its institutional future.
