Le Pen targets EU diplomacy, sets sights on Kallas

“The reality is that [Kallas’s] usefulness is very limited, and she duplicates the diplomacy of member states,” stated Charles-Henri Gallois, an advisor to National Rally President Jordan Bardella. This stance reflects a broader trend of nationalist parties across Europe seeking to reclaim power from Brussels, with foreign policy becoming a key battleground.

The National Rally believes the EU’s diplomatic service represents a wasteful expenditure and hinders European nations’ ability to operate effectively on the world stage. The differing approaches to the conflict in Ukraine, with Kallas being a strong supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Le Pen advocating for an international peace conference, exemplifies this divergence.

“Kallas has ‘used very warrior-like language on Ukraine,’” remarked National Rally MEP Jean-Paul Garraud, contrasting it with the party’s view that such rhetoric could escalate tensions with Russia. Le Pen has previously focused her criticism on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, but Kallas and the European External Action Service (EEAS) are now increasingly in her crosshairs.

During a recent visit to Brussels, Le Pen pledged to reduce the European Union’s scope, including limiting the EEAS’s authority. “France will no longer accept that the Commission exercises diplomatic competences, and even less military or intelligence competencies,” she declared. This move would likely trigger conflict with pro-European parties who consider the EEAS vital for international engagement.

Irish Renew MEP Barry Andrews cautioned that France, without the collective strength of Europe, would struggle to compete with major global powers like the United States and China. The EEAS responded by asserting that it “defends European interests, including those of France.”

The potential dismantling of the EEAS is intertwined with the National Rally’s plans to significantly reduce France’s EU budget contribution, aiming for an €11 billion cut from the expected €30 billion for 2027. They are seeking support from Italy, Spain’s Vox party, and the Czech Republic’s Andrej Babiš.

Concerns about the EEAS’s efficiency have also been voiced by France and Germany, leading to proposals for integrating it with the European Commission. Furthermore, Commission officials are reportedly considering slashing the EU’s Global Europe budget by up to 40%. The EEAS itself is undergoing internal reforms, with Secretary-General Kajsa Ollongren expected to present them to staff later this month. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged EU leaders to preserve funding for development aid.