The European Union’s diplomatic service has a new leadership team, marking a notable political moment in Brussels: two liberal women now sit at the heart of Europe’s foreign policy architecture at a time of global instability and geopolitical pressure.
Liberal former Dutch deputy prime minister and defence minister Kajsa Ollongren has been appointed Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU’s diplomatic arm responsible for foreign policy, security and crisis response.
The appointment places her alongside liberal High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas who has already been reshaping the EU’s external action agenda since taking office.
Together, they represent a distinctly liberal axis at the top of Europe’s diplomatic machine at a time when war, strategic competition and democratic pressure are reshaping the continent’s role in the world.
The EEAS functions as the EU’s foreign ministry, shaping Europe’s diplomatic relations, security policy, sanctions regime and global partnerships. Ollongren is no stranger to these files, with over 30 years of experience in public service and diplomacy.
A former defence minister and deputy prime minister, she has long worked on security and international affairs. She is currently serving within the EEAS as special representative for human rights, focusing on global rights violations and the protection of democratic norms.
Kallas welcomed the appointment, praising Ollongren’s experience in defence and foreign affairs and highlighting the importance of cooperation on Europe’s most urgent security challenges:
“With these new appointments, I am confident that the EEAS leadership will give you all the needed strength in tackling the challenges ahead of us,” Kallas said.
At a time when Europe is being forced to define its role in an increasingly unstable world, the leadership of Kallas and Ollongren sends a clear signal. Liberal voices are not only present in Europe’s foreign policy system, they are shaping its direction.
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Daniela's take:
“Having two experienced liberal women leaders heading the EU’s foreign policy is a significant moment for our European political family, reinforcing the liberal vision of a more assertive EU external action at a time of geopolitical pressure.”
Daniela Morales Garcia, Senior Policy Adviser 