Euronews: the fight for control of the EU diplomatic service

EU governments are in intense negotiations over the bloc’s next long-term budget. Discussed is the reduction of administrative costs for EU institutions abroad, reports Euronews. According to the publication, the reduction may lead to the desire of the European Commission (EC) to gain more control over the diplomatic service of the EU.

Since September 1, the modernization reform has been launched in EU delegations, which has already led to a significant reduction in administrative staff. The reform centralizes administrative tasks, as well as financial and contract management in the head office and regional centers overseeing country groups. In the end, however, delegations on the ground “have to be content with fewer and sometimes minimal” diplomats to maintain a political dialogue with local authorities and companies.

“The result has been the centralization of power, weakening delegations that in the past, especially when they were led by a diplomat from a major EU member state, could operate much more independently of Brussels,” he said.

At the same time, European officials note that EU countries with their own diplomatic missions often duplicate the work of delegations and do not always follow the approach that Brussels uses when interacting with third countries. According to a 2025 report by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU’s diplomatic arm manages 145 delegations and offices employing nearly 6,000 people, with a budget of almost €1 billion a year.

France and Germany supported the reform of EU foreign policy mechanisms. They proposed that most of the EEAS units be included in the EC, as this would allow for a “faster and more efficient response to world events.” It is planned to discuss the topic at the December summit of EU leaders.

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