S&D coordinators for the European Parliament’s Committees on ‘Foreign Affairs’ and ‘Development’, Nacho Sánchez Amor (Spanish) and Udo Bullmann (German), said they were “extremely concerned” by reports on plans to cut the budget and staff of European External Action Service (EEAS) delegations.
“We have requested an urgent debate with (the new High Representative) Kaja Kallas next week. The European Parliament needs to be rapidly informed of the situation”. They went on to add: “More than ever, we need a strong European diplomacy, with more, not less, funding and human resources! This is necessary if we want the EU to be more assertive in its external policies and improve its ability to take swift and effective action on the world stage”.
According to a September document, revealed by Politico on 28 November, “the current relatively standardised structure (of EU delegations around the world) must give way to a more targeted approach that recognises where the EU’s primary interests lie. Our presence in other countries is likely to be more limited and will be reduced”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)