Europe wants to act as a serious geopolitical power, but a growing dispute inside Brussels is raising a fundamental question: who actually speaks for the European Union? The tension between European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is exposing long-standing weaknesses in the bloc’s diplomatic system.
The struggle comes at a sensitive moment for Irish news and European affairs. The EU is seeking greater influence over the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza and the wider security challenges facing the continent. Yet its ability to respond quickly and collectively remains limited by institutional rivalry and the requirement for unanimous agreement among member states.
The Brussels struggle over EU foreign policy
Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, became the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs in 2024. Her appointment reflected her experience in dealing with Russia and her strong support for Ukraine. The position also makes her head of the European External Action Service, the EU’s diplomatic corps, which includes thousands of officials working in Brussels and embassies around the world.
In theory, the high representative should provide a clear voice for the EU internationally. In practice, Kallas must balance the competing priorities of 27 national governments, the European Commission and the foreign ministers who retain significant control over major decisions.
Several diplomats and officials cited in the report believe Kallas has sometimes announced proposals before securing full support from national capitals. Plans linked to financial assistance for Ukraine and European defence cooperation have reportedly faced resistance, forcing her to retreat from or revise her position.
Von der Leyen’s expanding influence
At the same time, von der Leyen has increasingly positioned the European Commission at the centre of the EU’s security and geopolitical agenda. Her office has taken a leading role in discussions about defence spending, support for Ukraine and Europe’s future security strategy.
The Commission also controls important financial resources and has responsibility for areas such as trade, development aid and enlargement. This gives von der Leyen considerable influence over the tools that can turn foreign policy statements into practical action.
The result is an uncertain division of responsibilities between the Commission and the European External Action Service. Critics warn that the diplomatic service risks becoming dependent on an institution that is gathering more authority under the Commission president’s office.
Why the EU struggles to speak with one voice
The disagreement is not simply a personal rivalry. The EU’s structure makes foreign policy difficult to coordinate. Major decisions generally require unanimous approval, meaning that a small group of member states can block a proposed response.
This has affected the bloc’s approach to Ukraine, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Although Europe has substantial economic, trade and aid leverage, political divisions have often prevented that influence from being used decisively.
Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and, to a lesser extent, Italy have been described as opposing stronger EU measures against Israel. These divisions have made it difficult for Brussels to agree on sanctions or other steps linked to the war in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Former European diplomats argue that changing the location of the diplomatic service would not solve the deeper problem. Unless the unanimity rule or the wider decision-making process changes, institutional reform could simply move the same dispute from one office to another.
France and Germany seek reform
France and Germany have called for a review of the EU’s foreign policy machinery. A working paper from the two governments reportedly proposed bringing the European External Action Service into the Commission while giving the high representative greater control over defence, development aid and relations with neighbouring regions.
Foreign ministers discussed the proposals in Wicklow, but there was no clear agreement to support the plan. The debate is expected to continue as governments consider how to make EU diplomacy more coherent without surrendering national control over foreign affairs.
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Ukraine, Gaza and Europe’s credibility
The dispute has consequences beyond Brussels. The EU has been sidelined in some US-led negotiations relating to Ukraine, despite its financial and political support for the country. Its response to the Gaza conflict has also exposed the limits of its collective influence.
Europe is one of the world’s largest trading powers and provides significant development assistance. However, officials argue that the bloc often appears to be a payer rather than a player because it struggles to connect its economic resources with a unified political strategy.
Kallas has called for greater coherence between the different parts of the EU’s foreign policy system. She has also compared her relationship with von der Leyen to the relationship between a prime minister and a foreign minister, suggesting that both offices can have different perspectives while working within the same government.
But the central challenge remains political. Even if Kallas and von der Leyen maintain a constructive personal relationship, national governments still protect their vetoes and are reluctant to transfer more authority to Brussels.
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What happens next?
The reform discussion could shape the EU’s ability to respond to future crises. A stronger high representative, better coordination between institutions and faster decision-making could give Europe a more credible international presence.
However, governments are unlikely to abandon their control over sensitive foreign policy decisions quickly. Any lasting solution will need to address several issues:
- Clearer boundaries between the Commission, the high representative and national governments.
- More reliable funding for the European External Action Service.
- Faster coordination during international crises.
- A debate about whether unanimity should remain necessary for every major foreign policy decision.
- Closer integration of trade, aid, migration, defence and diplomatic strategy.
The controversy also matters to Ireland, where European security, humanitarian policy and international trade remain important political issues. Developments in Brussels can influence Irish government positions, defence debates and the country’s role in EU diplomacy.
Conclusion: Europe needs a clearer voice
The Brussels power struggle shows that the EU’s foreign policy problem is larger than any one individual. Kaja Kallas may be responsible for representing Europe abroad, while Ursula von der Leyen controls much of the Commission’s political and financial machinery. Yet neither can overcome divisions among the 27 member states alone.
For the EU to become a credible global actor, it will need more than a new structure. It needs political agreement on who leads, who decides and how quickly Europe can act. Until those questions are answered, the question at the heart of this Irish news report will remain unresolved: who really speaks for Europe?
Image Courtesy: The Irish Times
