A common embassy for Europeans in Syria. Yes, but…
(BRUSSELS2) The European presence in Syria was again on the table of PSC ambassadors today. But there is still no common position. Four of the "big" countries (UK, France, Germany and, most recently, Spain) have already closed, or will close, their embassies. The other Member States present on the spot - around fifteen - still keep their embassies open and operational (Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Czech Rep., ... ) as long as the security situation allows it or as long as there is not a single European position on the subject. Two of these countries (Finland, the Netherlands) have however already reduced their staff to a minimum for security reasons.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has offered to host diplomats from member countries that have withdrawn their troops. All the delegations seem to agree on this point; or at least none expressed a dissenting opinion. And Spain, which announced (Tuesday) wanting to close its embassy, wants to put two diplomats in the EU delegation, to continue to observe the situation, its embassy operating at a minimum with local agents. However, this option cannot be used by all Member States. The European delegation has offered 5 places available within it for diplomats from Member States who wish to continue to exercise their work while closing their embassies. There are some pragmatic considerations to sort out, especially when it comes to security.
The EU embassy in Syria has been headed since 2007 by Greek Vassilis Bontosoglou. He should have been replaced as part of the 2011 rotation. But"given the circumstances, this replacement is currently suspended"says the EEAS. According to the information available, around 26.000 European citizens are present in Syria. But a large majority of them (around 80-90%) have dual Syrian nationality and local ties (family, etc...).
NB: The idea of having only one European embassy in a country in crisis is attractive and would be a strong gesture. However, it comes up against practical problems such as the one mentioned. In the same way, all the ideas developed regularly to reinforce the consular role of the EU, with diplomats of the Member States, will come up against very concrete considerations. In which premises, with which budget, with which means of communication, security, etc.? Far from theoretical debates on the More or the Less of Europe, it is necessary to examine all these questions in a practical way. The test of the Syrian crisis will also make it possible to see whether those who propose these developments are able to walk the talk.
Read also: Europeans still remain divided on Syria
