European embassies on the front line in 120 countries
In more than 120 countries around the world, in 2011, an ambassador appointed by Cathy Ashton will be responsible for representing the European Union (EU). The new table of diplomatic representation which will be applicable on 1 January 2011 will thus reflect, even more, the new structure of the Lisbon Treaty for foreign policy. With few exceptions, when an EU delegation is present, it will be the lead external representation of the European Union (EU). A small revolution in the highly polished diplomatic world which will have consequences beyond (I will come back to this). Until now (before the Lisbon Treaty), each country took turns carrying out this function.
European Ambassador representing EU interests
Out of 166 countries listed, appearing on the diplomatic table, the EU is actually represented by a member of the European diplomatic service in 121 countries. That is a clear majority. And this list includes the main G20 countries: United States, Russia, Japan, China, India, Brazil, South Africa...
Most often, the delegation is present on site (this concerns 102 countries). In around twenty countries (19 countries), the closest delegation is responsible. An exception to the original principle which wanted the EU to be competent only when a delegation is present, but which proceeds from a certain logic: taking over the role played by the former delegations of the European Commission in the ACP countries, essentially . This is the case for Somalia (from Kenya), Swaziland (from Lesotho), the Maldives (from Sri Lanka), Bhutan (from India), or for several Caribbean islands. (which are home to many flags of "convenience") such as Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and Grenadines, Grenada... (where the Barbados delegation is competent), the Bahamas (from Jamaica), or the Pacific Islands such as Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa or Tuvalu (from Fiji).
The national ambassador representing EU interests
There are still around twenty states (22 according to my sources), especially in Latin America, where, despite the existence of an EU delegation, it is still a Member State which is responsible for representing exterior. For example France in El Savador, Honduras and Vanuatu, Germany in Laos or Paraguay; Spain in Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago; Hungary in Argentina, Belarus and Jordan as well as in Cuba and... in the Vatican; the Netherlands in Costa Rica and Suriname; Poland in New Zealand and Iraq; the United Kingdom in Gambia or Nepal; Sweden to Cambodia, Guatemala or Iceland. In 4 of these countries (Argentina, Belarus, Jordan, Iraq), the EU Delegation will exercise the functions of EU representation in the first semester"as soon as the conditions are met".
Good luck to the Hungarian ambassador in Iran and the Polish in North Korea
In countries where there is no EU delegation, we find the traditional rule of the rotating presidency. Concretely, it is either the country of the current presidency (Hungary) or the next one (Poland) or, if it is not present, the previous country which ensures the representation. Thus a Hungarian ambassador will have the delicate task of representing the EU in Iran or Libya. He will also do so in Kuwait, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. In Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan but also in North Korea, this responsibility falls to a Polish ambassador. In Oulan-Bator (Mongolia), Moroni (Comoros), Port-Victoria (Seychelles) or Rangoon (Burma), it is the French ambassador who is on duty. In Bahrain, it is his Italian counterpart. In Equatorial Guinea, it's the Spanish ambassador. In Sao Tome and Principe, it is the Portuguese ambassador. In Panama and Belize, it's the UK.
The European ambassador on the front line for defense missions
Finally, it can be noted that in most countries where a European defense mission (civilian and/or military) is deployed, it is now the EU embassy that is responsible for representing European interests. The exceptions can now be counted on the fingers of one hand: in the Seychelles where it is France who represents Europe, as well as in Iraq where it is the Polish ambassador (while waiting for the delegation of EU is operational). It should be noted that in Oman, it is the German ambassador who is on duty for the EU and in Bahrain, it is the Italian ambassador. Two countries "impacted" indirectly by the anti-piracy operation Eunavfor Atalanta.
