EU to downsize diplomatic missions in Belarus, nine other countries – report

May 20, Pozirk. The European Union is planning staff reductions of about 100 local employees in 10 foreign delegations, including Belarus, amid budget cuts and reorganization of its foreign service, POLITICO reports, citing a document and two EU officials.

Last week, the European Commission approved the downsizing plan for the European External Action Service (EEAS) presented by Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, it noted.

The two-year plan covers countries with less priority to the EU as it is redirecting its resources from development aid to strategic aims such as defense or working with countries crucial for enforcing the EU sanctions against Russia, POLITICO said, citing one of the officials.

While maintaining all of its 144 foreign missions open, the EU intends to reduce staff at 10 to an ambassador and one or two aides, with gradual cuts to local staff to be completed in 2027.

The move follows the transfer of some staff from the EU Delegation in Minsk to Brussels last October. At that time, EU official Peter Stano had attributed it to the state of the Belarusian-EU relationship, noting that the recalled staff will “continue their important work related to Belarus” from Brussels.

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