The candidate to become the next EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, wants a stronger position for the EU on the global stage. Members of the European Parliament have questioned the former prime minister of Estonia on a number of areas, including relations with the United States, the Middle East, China and Ukraine as part of the confirmation process for Kallas' expected appointment.
Kaja Kallas, a candidate for the positions of EU High Representative and Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, highlighted the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict as her top priorities at a confirmation hearing before the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) on Tuesday. She also advocated strengthening European defence and a close cooperation with the United States.
EU leaders had already nominated the former Estonian prime minister to be the bloc's next foreign policy chief in June this year. A hawkish critic of Russia, Kallas has a personal beef with the Kremlin after Soviet authorities deported her mother to Siberia in the wake of World War II. More recently, she herself was put on Russia's wanted list. The 47-year-old lawyer was first elected to the Estonian parliament in 2011 for the liberal Reform Party founded by her father. On her watch, Estonia, which borders Russia, has made a point of distancing itself from its Soviet past, for example by removing Soviet-era war monuments. Kallas has pushed for Europe to build up its defences in the face of Russian aggression and to supply more weapons to Ukraine.
Viewing the war on Ukraine as an existential threat to her homeland, Tallinn's "Iron Lady" is expected to maintain a laser focus on supporting Kyiv. But with the war in Gaza raging and challenges mounting around the globe, she will have to prove quickly that she is not a one-trick pony. What's her vision of the EU's foreign policy for the next five years? "Our neighbours' problems today are our problems tomorrow" "This will not be an easy five years," Kallas told members of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday.
As she explained, wars are raging in the Union's vicinity and actors such as Russia, China and Iran are trying to change the world order.
Ukraine's victory is "our priority", Kallas said. The European Union must back Ukraine "for as long as it takes" in its fight to repel Russia's invasion, she added. "The situation on the battlefield is very difficult. And that's why we must keep on working every day," the Estonian politician told EU lawmakers in Brussels. "Today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes and with as much military, financial and humanitarian aid as needed." In her opening speech, Kallas did not only talk about Ukraine, but also mentioned the war in the Middle East. Attacking civilians or civilian infrastructure is not allowed under humanitarian law, Kallas pointed out. She stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, but also the need to focus on humanitarian support and be committed to a two-state solution. This is a good basis for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, she argued.
"Our neighbours' problems today are our problems tomorrow," she warned.
"I see actors such as Russia, China, North Korea, Iran aiming to change the rules-based international order," she said, adding that the EU must be ready to respond to all threats together with its allies and partners.
Dependence on China and cooperation with the US Kallas pointed out that China has changed in recent years. "Our dependencies towards China in the key sectors are our vulnerability," she acknowledged. She also advocated that China should pay the price for its support for Russia in the war in Ukraine.
"Without China's support to Russia, Russia would not be able to continue its war with the same force," Kallas said. "Russia, Iran, North Korea produce more equipment and ammunition than the whole euroatlantic community," she said. According to Kallas, the European Union must invest more in defence and clearly confront threats.
"Everybody wants peace, but there is a difference between peace and peace. We want a sustainable peace, because if we just give in to the aggressor and say that 'OK, take what you want', then all the aggressors or would-be aggressors all across the world will get the note that it pays off," Kallas responded to a question posed by a far-right German MEP Alexander Sell from the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) fraction.
She also announced that she would contact the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office. Kallas highlighted that the United States remains the EU's most important ally and the bloc will continue to work closely with them.
EU enlargement: clear results by 2029 Kallas emphasised that the EU's efforts to enlarge the European Union must deliver clear results by 2029, when the mandate expires. She described the increase in membership as a geostrategic investment.
Speaking about EU enlargement, Kallas underlined the importance of the Western Balkans as a European region. She stressed two important tracks: a path to EU enlargement and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. "I think we really need to have success stories in five years in terms of enlargement. Because it's not only for the prosperity of the region but also to give hope to the region." To deliver on enlargement, Kallas pledged to work closely with the next European Commissioner for the portfolio. The Slovenian Marta Kos, Commissioner-designate for the Enlargement post, was already heard by members of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee last Thursday.
Kallas also stressed that freedom of movement is one of the Union's most important achievements, and that the external border should be strengthened. "We cannot be both borderless inside and out."
Kallas confirmation vote postponed According to the European Parliament sources, the European Parliament has decided to postpone the vote on the nomination of Kaja Kallas as the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Earlier, EP sources said the confirmations were likely to be postponed until Wednesday, Nov 13. The decisions have now been postponed to a later date pending "mediation" by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the sources said.
In addition to the vote on Kallas's nomination, the European Parliament has also postponed votes on confirming the appointments of five other candidates for the executive Vice-Presidents of the upcoming European Commission and Commissioner-designates: Raffaele Fitto (Italy), Roxana Mînzatu (Romania), Stéphane Séjourné (France), Teresa Ribera (Spain) and Henna Virkkunen (Finland).
Based on the committee's recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (comprising European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the political group chairs) is scheduled to conduct the final assessment and officially conclude the all nominees' hearings on November 21.
The vote by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on the entire college of Commissioners, requiring a majority of votes cast through a roll-call, is currently planned for the plenary session in Strasbourg from November 25 to 28.
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