France advocates expanding powers of EU foreign policy chief, Jean-Noël Barrot says

France advocates expanding the capabilities of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and making more active use of European Commission instruments to execute the bloc's foreign policy, Report informs, citing statements by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Noël Barrot ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland.

"This is the thrust of the proposals we have put forward together with Germany: the idea of strengthening the role of the High Representative and supporting the work currently being carried out by Kaja Kallas," Barrot told reporters.

According to him, the proposals put forward by France and Germany have already sparked debates; however, their shared objective is to enable the EU to conduct a more independent and effective foreign policy.

Responding to a question regarding the possible transfer of additional powers from European diplomacy and the European External Action Service to the jurisdiction of the European Commission, Barrot stated that Kallas should "have complete discretion" to exercise her authority and utilize pan-European tools more actively for foreign policy objectives.

"This is where the European Union"s foreign policy must be decided, or at the very least, this is where it must be prepared so that the European Council can take a stance and act. So that we can carry out this work as effectively as possible, we also need the High Representative to have the appropriate tools at her disposal," he added.

However, the French minister did not specify the exact changes in powers envisioned by the Franco-German proposals.