In brief

• France's National Rally would abolish or sharply cut the EU diplomatic service if Marine Le Pen wins the 2027 presidential election.
• Party advisers say High Representative Kaja Kallas has limited usefulness and that she duplicates national diplomacy.
• The move reflects a broader push by nationalist parties to shift powers away from Brussels, with foreign policy a key target.

National Rally questions the EU's diplomatic service

The French far-right party National Rally is considering abolishing, or at least significantly shrinking, the European Union's diplomatic apparatus if its leader Marine Le Pen wins the presidential election in 2027. Four party representatives told Politico the plan, which has been reported in Ukrainian media. (Ле Пен хоче скорочення або й ліквідації дипломатичної служби ЄС – Європейська правда)

The criticism is aimed directly at Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Charles-Henri Gallois, an adviser to party chief Jordan Bardella, said her usefulness is very limited and that she duplicates the diplomatic work of member states. He added that no one recognises her legitimacy, particularly the United States and China.

The party also argues that the EU diplomatic service wastes taxpayers' money and prevents European countries from projecting their own strength on the world stage.

A wider fight over Brussels' powers

The remarks point to growing tension over who controls foreign policy in the bloc. Nationalist parties in France, Germany and Poland want to pull powers back from Brussels, and foreign policy is one of their main targets.

The External Action Service has long competed with the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, for influence over external policy. Nationalist pressure adds to that rivalry.

Ukraine illustrates the gap. Kallas and Le Pen hold sharply different views on the war, although the two have not yet publicly clashed over it.