Introduction of European External Action Service may result in Finland closing some of its representations abroad

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Finland may close some of its missions and representations abroad once the new European External Action Service (EEAS) commences its operation.
      At present, Finland has 98 embassies and consulates in more than 80 countries.
      Last Friday, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) spoke in Brussels of the single EU external relations department proposed in the Treaty of Lisbon.
     
With the establishment of the institution the Union aims to strengthen and unify its international role. In the future the European Commission's representations abroad will fall under the EEAS as EU embassies. Hence the Union will have more embassies around the globe than any single national state.
      “Currently the Union has around 130 representations abroad. This figure may rise to 180”, Stubb estimates.
      The number of Finland’s representations, on the other hand, will not plummet from the present figure of around one hundred to for example fifty, Stubb says.
     
“In my view this is an opportunity for us to lighten and retarget our activities. Finland will not need an ambassador and an embassy in every single country, once the EEAS services and structures are at our disposal”, Stubb envisions.
      The problem with the closing of an embassy is that this can be seen as a political statement, signalling that the significance of that particular country has decreased.
     
Already now Finnish citizens have the right to seek help from any other EU nation’s representations in countries where Finland does not have a consulate or an embassy of its own.
      For Finns, the EEAS services might prove useful for example in emergency situations, but also with matters relating to passports and consular services.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  More and more Finns fall ill or die abroad (27.2.2009)
  Business interests call for stronger Finnish representation in Southeast Asia (3.8.2007)

Links:
  European External Action Service (Wikipedia)
  Ministry for Foreign Affairs - Finnish diplomatic missions abroad

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