Costa and France curb Von der Leyen's grip on EU foreign policy

Von der Leyen monopolises foreign policy and the EU splits

First it was António Costa. Then, the French foreign minister. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has managed to get the European Council and French diplomacy to agree on one complaint: her intention to centralise EU foreign policy within the Commission. The rumours, reported by Euractiv and La Vanguardia, have set off alarm bells at a time when Brussels is debating its role in a world that no longer respects its rules.

The institutional complaint

The EU Treaty distributes external representation: António Costa, as President of the Council, and Kaja Kallas, as High Representative, are the designated voices. That is why, when Von der Leyen declares that "Europe can no longer be the guardian of the old world order", many ambassadors see an overreach. El Mundo reports that "many voices consider that the president is overstepping her functions".

The underlying democratic debate

Some respond that Von der Leyen was also elected by the European Parliament with an absolute majority. But critics point out that Parliament does not choose foreign policy, and that turning the Commission into a de facto foreign ministry would hollow out the treaties. The paradox: the more efficiency is sought, the deeper the democratic deficit becomes.

The discussion comes at a bad time, with the EU trying to define its voice vis-à-vis the United States and China. But the truly striking fact is another one: while Costa and France complain, Kaja Kallas, the only one with a clear parliamentary mandate, still lacks the weight she deserves. At this rate, foreign policy will be made not by whoever holds the mandate, but by whoever controls the microphone.