Internal Power Struggle Escalating? European Media Reports von der Leyen May Be Behind Efforts to Strip Karas of Diplomatic Authority
According to Euronews, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen may be linked to reforms of the EU foreign affairs institution and potential removal of certain powers from EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
Another context behind this issue is the increasingly strained relationship between Kallas and the European External Action Service, as well as between von der Leyen and the European Commission.
The portal notes that some observers believe von der Leyen has overstepped her authority by increasingly commenting on foreign policy matters, further undermining Kallas's position as the head of EU diplomacy.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that some suspect this recent uproar—sparked by a French media outlet—is merely the outcome of an internal power struggle.
Previously, France had proposed an initiative to restructure the EU’s foreign affairs institutions. The relevant documents outlined three possible scenarios: transferring all external EU activities under the jurisdiction of the European Commission; shifting the diplomatic functions to the Council of the EU; or expanding Kallas’s authority within a broader reform framework.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867944522567684/
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