On Monday 17 November, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas made a plea to European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) for the European External Action Service to be given a larger budget. For 2024, the budget was €880 million.
“In 2024, the EEAS delivered more with essentially the same means as the previous year”, explained Kaja Kallas. And she warned that “under-financing diplomacy – especially today – carries not only physical risks but also strategic risks. We cannot be expected to uphold Europe’s role in the world with decreasing real resources”.
The High Representative pointed out that the budget had covered the work of around 2,500 staff at headquarters and nearly 2,800 in the 145 EU delegations, as well as all related costs. “But the duty of care we have for 8,000 people must also be noted. Because people working for the Commission but stationed in our delegations are also under our obligation when it comes to security on the ground”, she said.
According to Ms Kallas, salaries and buildings accounted for around 80% of the budget. “This limits flexibility for the remaining 20%. It requires constant trade-offs, often between equally essential needs: security upgrades, staff missions, IT resilience, and operational engagement”, she lamented. According to the High Representative, while deferring critical building maintenance, delaying IT upgrades and staff rotation may be a cost-saving strategy, it is also one “that makes us vulnerable”. Security challenges have increased.
“Despite financial constraints, we have not and will not close any EU delegations”, promised the High Representative, adding that the EU was modernising its network of delegations and adapting it to strategic needs and interests. The EU is also increasing co-location to save money. “In 2024, eight new co-location agreements were signed. This brings us to 137 agreements in 80 delegations: 45 with Member States and partner countries and 92 with EU institutions and agencies”.
The budget voted for 2025 is €932.5 million. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)