The Federal Audit OfficeExternal link says that 31 small embassies with minimal levels of staff often lack a clear profile. And though their work was limited to simply maintaining existing bilateral relations, they cost the state about CHF25 million ($25 million) annually, it said.
In its report, published on Wednesday, the financial watchdog recommended a review of the portfolio of embassies, as well as more ambitious targets.
It said it was difficult to prove how efficient the activities of these small embassies are. More than half of their resources are used for administrative and management tasks, the audit office said. It is also difficult to find suitable staff for such embassies as their responsibilities and challenges are of limited importance.
The financial regulator has called for alternative options, saying the network of small diplomatic representations abroad should not be extended.
“For representations providing limited added value, the foreign ministry must consider alternative solutions, e.g. regionalisation or the ambassador-in-residence in Bern, along the lines of the solutions developed by other countries,” a statement said.
In response, the foreign ministry acknowledged the need to review its strategy, but it insists that a sovereign state needs a broad network of missions to defend national interests, according to the Swiss news agency.
Switzerland’s diplomatic networkExternal link currently includes embassies, general consulates, cooperation offices and missions to international organisations in around 170 locations across the world.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.