Le Pen plans to dismantle EU diplomatic service if she wins 2027 French presidency

Marine Le Pen intends to dismantle or drastically reduce the EU's diplomatic arm, the European External Action Service, if she wins France's 2027 presidential election, four National Rally officials have said.

"The reality is that her usefulness is very limited, and she duplicates the diplomacy of member states," said Charles-Henri Gallois, adviser to National Rally President Jordan Bardella, referring to EEAS chief Kaja Kallas. "No one recognizes her legitimacy, particularly not the United States, nor China."

National Rally MEP Jean-Paul Garraud said Kallas had used "very warrior-like language on Ukraine," adding that if his party expressed itself the same way "we would be in total war" with Russia.

In a recent Brussels visit, Le Pen vowed to downsize the EU if she comes to power. "France will no longer accept that the Commission exercises diplomatic competences, and even less military or intelligence competencies," she told reporters.

Last month the National Rally unveiled plans for an €11 billion cut to France's EU budget contribution for 2027, which is currently expected to total approximately €30 billion. The EEAS has an annual budget of close to €1 billion and employs more than 5,200 people globally.

The EEAS rejected the criticism. "Across Europe, the far right is against the very idea of European cooperation," an EEAS spokesperson said. "EU diplomacy defends European interests, including those of France."

National Rally sees potential allies in Italy, Spain's Vox and Andrej Babiš's Czech Republic for a push against the EEAS budget. The Franco-German initiative has separately proposed integrating the EEAS with the Commission, and Commission officials have internally simulated cutting the Global Europe budget — worth €200 billion in the last long-term budget — by as much as 40% in the next budget cycle.

Poll of Polls figures put Le Pen at 34% in the first round of the presidential election, ahead of Jean-Luc Mélenchon on 17% and Edouard Philippe on 16%.