Estonian Prime Minister Kallas named frontrunner for EU's foreign policy chief role.
Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, in the Spotlight for EU's Top Foreign Affairs Job
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According to Politico, a renowned global political magazine, Estonia's Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, has become the talk of the town in Brussels as a possible contender for the next High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Commission.
Currently, Josep Borrell, a seasoned Spanish politician, holds this position. However, he is not expected to return for the next European Commission term. Even though the High Representative doesn't wield much practical power - national foreign ministers often take the lead - smaller member countries still see value in this role, claims Politico.
Baltic countries, particularly Estonia, aspire for a greater influence on EU foreign policy, especially a tenacious stance towards future relationships with Russia, as per Politico. The magazine highlights Kaja Kallas, the current PM of Estonia, as the most prominent name circulating in Brussels for this job.
There are whispers that Emmanuel Macron's office has shown interest in Kallas to take over from Borrell. Despite this, Macron is said to be keeping his options open,Three French officials with direct knowledge of the discussions confirm to Politico.
A source revealed, "There's a good understanding between Macron and Kallas, she's well-liked and they've got similar points of view." Also, Estonian counterparts have reportedly hinted at Macron's preference for Kallas, according to a senior Eastern European official.
However, the appointment is not a foregone conclusion. Politics reports that EU members further from Russia harbor a pervasive distrust of the Baltic region's critical stance on Russia. There's a fear that Kallas would concentrate too heavily on Russia, disregarding other global issues.
Apart from Kallas, Politico mentionsother potential candidates for the High Representative job, such as Alexander De Croo, Sophie Wilmès, Xavier Bettel, Radek Sikorski, and Micheál Martin.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, often abbreviated as HRVP (or HR/VP), acts as the chief coordinator and representative of the common foreign and security policy within the European Union. The HRVP chairs meetings of the EU's foreign, defense, and development ministers and represents the EU at G7 and G20 ministerial meetings.
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Intriguingly, the search results do not reveal any specific names for potential candidates for the next High Representative. The appointment typically occurs closer to the end of the current term or in the event of a vacancy. The selection process typically involves nominations from EU member states and approval by the European Parliament. Ideal candidates usually have a strong background in international relations and diplomacy, although without specific names, it's challenging to predict their countries of origin at this stage.
One thing is clear, any future candidates would likely belong to a pool of experienced diplomats and politicians across the EU.
- Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of Estonia, is gaining attention as a potential candidate for the EU's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a role currently held by Josep Borrell.
- The Baltic countries, particularly Estonia, aim for more influence on EU foreign policy, with a keen interest in a firm stance towards future relationships with Russia.
- Emmanuel Macron's office is rumored to have expressed interest in Kaja Kallas for the High Representative position, though Macron is reportedly keeping his options open.
- A possible appointment of Kaja Kallas as the High Representative could face opposition from EU members further from Russia due to the Baltic region's critical stance on Russia, potentially leading to a concentration on Russia to the neglect of other global issues.
- Apart from Kaja Kallas, potential candidates for the High Representative job include Alexander De Croo, Sophie Wilmès, Xavier Bettel, Radek Sikorski, and Micheál Martin.
