Italy May Withhold Support for Estonian Prime Minister as EU Foreign Affairs Chief

Italy’s ruling party has expressed concerns that appointing Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU foreign affairs chief would grant her excessive influence, given the new balance of power following the recent European elections.

Sources within Italy’s “Brothers of Italy” party conveyed this to Euractiv.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is regarded as a leading candidate for the role of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Until recently, it seemed likely that Kallas, representing the liberal “Renew Europe” party, would secure the high-ranking position in Brussels. This appeared particularly probable in the days leading up to an informal EU leaders’ dinner in Brussels.

However, according to sources, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leader of the conservative “European Conservatives and Reformists” (ECR) group and Italy’s “Brothers of Italy” party, has reportedly opposed the proposed appointments due to a perceived lack of broader consultations. Sources within her party suggest that Meloni may be particularly sceptical about Kallas’s appointment.

“Kallas is a respected figure, and there are no personal objections to her appointment from the Italian side,” the sources stated. The primary issue, they noted, is political representation.

“Renew Europe” recently suffered electoral losses and is expected to soon lose its position as the third-largest group in the European Parliament. The influence that Kallas would wield as High Representative would be disproportionately high given her party’s diminishing presence, they added.

Shortly after these statements, the ECR announced the addition of new members, including the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), which has elevated the ECR to the third-largest force in the European Parliament, surpassing the EU’s liberals.

Analysts point out that Meloni’s scepticism towards Kallas’s appointment may also stem from another concern. Meloni may be reluctant to delegate foreign policy powers to the Baltic countries, fearing that their focus would be excessively oriented towards Eastern Europe, potentially sidelining Mediterranean issues and migration problems, which are of paramount importance to Meloni.

For her part, Kallas has stated that she is “very sceptical” about her chances of being appointed to the position.

Read also:

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas Poised to Become EU’s Chief Diplomat

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