Reducing Hungary’s 118 diplomatic missions by about 20 would save the country an annual two billion forints (EUR 7 m), Foreign Minister Peter Balazs told reporters on Wednesday.
“We want to build a sustainable and efficient network, the size of which is in proportion to the economic strength of the country; we should have embassies in fewer than 80 countries, and have a dozen or more consular offices,” Balazs said. He added that 5 or 6 of the latter should be in neighbouring countries.
The foreign minister said that some of the buildings now used by diplomatic missions could also be sold, which would generate between 8-15 billion forints (EUR 28-53m).
An official of the main opposition Fidesz party, however, said it was unnecessary to slim down the diplomatic corps. Fidesz MP Zsolt Nemeth, who is head parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told reporters that Hungary did not have any more embassies than countries of a similar size.
“The Foreign Ministry has chosen the least reasonable way to save money, as diplomatic missions could contribute to resolving the economic crisis,” Nemeth said.
The government and the foreign affairs committee are expected to pass the final decision on the Foreign Ministry’s proposal in the next week or two.
