EU considers overhaul of diplomatic structure to improve crisis response

French officials have circulated an internal paper proposing reforms to the EU's diplomatic structure, with three main options: consolidating all foreign policy under the European Commission, shifting diplomatic functions to the EU Council representing member states, or strengthening Kallas's position as a more powerful executive vice president within the Commission. The proposals stem from assessments that the EU responded too slowly and inconsistently to recent crises, particularly the Gaza war, due to overlapping responsibilities between the Commission and the separate EU External Action Service established in 2011. Kallas responded cautiously, welcoming debate while noting that institutional roles are defined in EU treaties and emphasizing the need to reduce duplication. However, some diplomats argue that institutional reform may be less important than the requirement for unanimous agreement among all 27 member states on foreign policy decisions, which they contend is the real impediment to swift action.