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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Big variations in rent costs of Swiss embassies abroad
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Switzerland pays dearly for its representation abroad – some CHF1.2 million monthly is spent on rent across the world, a newspaper writes.
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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.
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Swiss diplomacy at home
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A new book about Swiss representations abroad highlights 34 embassies, chancelleries, residences and consulates of patrimonial, historical as well as architectural interest. Among Swiss diplomacy’s most emblematic sites, these buildings are often considered to be real jewels of Switzerland’s 150 outposts on five continents. Among those buildings are a number of palaces and mansions. “Some…
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Ambassador Martin Aeschbacher tells swissinfo.ch that the small Gulf kingdom “is on the rise” economically. Aeschbacher says relations with Gulf states are growing in importance. Qatar in particular plays a mediator role in the region, something he will be following “close-hand”. The new embassy opening comes against the backdrop of closures of various Swiss embassies…
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Swiss experts say that the country’s search for identity has had an impact on its stability. Unable to realise the hopes raised by the 2004 revolution, Ukraine plunged into a political and economic crisis, exacerbated by the jailing in October 2011 of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko – a symbol of the opposition – and…
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“Only an independent Kosovo can develop economically and politically, and Switzerland is contributing to the stability of the region by helping the construction of this state,” she said. As a state, Kosovo could be a “true partner” with whom Bern could negotiate agreements. There are about 60 bilateral accords that were made with the former…
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