Australia prides itself for ‘punching above its weight’ and ‘leading the way’ - just look at the claims for the carbon tax. Hence also the conceit of the temporary seat on the UN Security Council.
Well it is time that Australia takes the lead in Europe.
At a time where there is an urgent need for fiscal discipline around the world, why do we have so many Embassies in Europe? The Europeans have been claiming for many years that they are united and have peacefully created the European Union to give voice to their international ambitions. The EU has just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Yet we have the bizarre duplication of the European Union sitting on various international organisations in addition to its member states.
So, for example, the EU sits in the G20, in addition to Germany, France, the UK and Italy.
The EU sits in OECD meetings, in addition to Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
The EU sits in the General Assembly of the United Nations, and since May 2011 a status that allows it to speak, interject and participate fully in UN activities except to cast a vote.
The EU fully participates in the World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The EU is represented at G7 and G8 meetings. As is the European Central Bank.
In short, there is considerable duplication in the representation from EU member countries at every major international organisation.
This duplication is compounded in reverse: most countries have various Embassies (High Commissions) in European Union member states as well as an Embassy to the European Union in Brussels.
Australia, although criticised for a supposedly small diplomatic presence, has missions in Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. All of which are EU countries. (And if Scotland breaks away from the UK will we then open an Embassy there too?)
Let’s take the lead.
Australia should shut down all of its missions in EU countries, and have a large Embassy in Brussels, with some appropriate consular presence in certain European countries.
We would benefit from the economies of scale, and generate significant savings from the massive duplication that presently affects our European representation. Indeed, we should get more diplomatic benefits for less money. The post would be an attractive place to work, and its staff would have the opportunity to travel around Europe just as our staff in the United States travel around the US.
Our efforts in this respect might spur other countries to follow (after all, we supposedly lead the world in many ways). If the other countries followed Australia and cut their representation to just the EU, that would not only save large amounts of taxpayers’ money around the world, but further promote European integration. While at it, we could disinvite EU member states from the various international organisations, although there would be some tension in removing the UK and France from the Security Council. But once the ball is rolling, it would be difficult for the member states to continue a direct involvement in international affairs. This would be the culmination of the European adventure; Australia can do its part to promote this dream.
We can manage with one Embassy covering the United States; so too we could manage with one Embassy to cover the European Union.
The world already listens too much to Europe. Let’s have one European voice rather than 28.
I suggest the following embassies,
1 Washington,to cover All the Western Hemisphere.
2 London.to cover Europe and Russia.
3 Beijing,to cover All North Asia.
4Singapore to coverSouth Asia and India.
Who cares about moslems and africans.let the clever Bludgers of the untidy nayshuns look after the economic reffos ,Weve done More than Enough.
Borisgodunov
23 Oct 12 at 5:16 pm
That would give legitimacy to an organization that repeats referenda until they get the desired result; an organization that rides roughshod over sovereign rights.
Let us please leave our recognition of this socialist regime tokenistic. It is more than it deserves.
The Beer Whisperer
23 Oct 12 at 5:20 pm
How about the Holy See and Ireland?
But if consuls do all the administrative work (foster trade, look after expatriates, replace lost passports, issue visas and tell tourists where the next AFL game is on TV at which bar etc), all the embassy does extra is to represent the government (which they don’t – given the telephone and teleconferencing by the foreign minister) they are almost all a pointless waste of money. Except for spying.
Paul K
23 Oct 12 at 6:01 pm
Not gonna happen.
Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas mate.
And pollies of al persuasions always have one eye on the comfortable retirement sinecure somewhere noice.
They will not be removing stations from the line that the Gravy Train runs on any time soon.
Leigh Lowe
23 Oct 12 at 6:13 pm
NZ went on a burst of mission openings in the EU. So much so that the salaries and costs of the embassy in Austria was a major NZ export to that countyry. look it up.
Jim Rose
23 Oct 12 at 6:49 pm
The embassy in Brussels is not only to the EU but also to Belgium and Luxembourg and also to NATO which is very relevant whilst we are in Afghanistan.
Sean M
23 Oct 12 at 6:54 pm
While good in theory, it build on the idea of the EU as a sovereign nation. The EU causes enough trouble already.
Driftforge
23 Oct 12 at 7:29 pm
It could be a wonderfully timed announcement should the Brits ever get an in/out referendum. Particularly if we could get a few other middling countries on board.
Super D
23 Oct 12 at 9:10 pm
Do we as a company pool resources with NZ and Canada? I thought there were treaties/agreements for the ‘Stans and other far flung places. Could we leverage off those facilities in more countries?
Token
23 Oct 12 at 9:10 pm
Having a somewhat better understanding of what goes on in our embassies than the usually estimable Samuel J clearly does I can only suggest that on this occasion he has beclowned himself. Unfortunate but true.
It’s also inconsistent with the Libertarian principle of devolving power to the smallest practical units in order to ensure that the concentration of power in one place does not lead to corruption.
Jack Lacton
24 Oct 12 at 12:10 am
“If the other countries followed Australia and cut their representation to just the EU, that would not only save large amounts of taxpayers’ money around the world, but further promote European integration.”
I agree with Jack above: EU integration – for which read “centralization” – is not a Good Thing. But actually the sooner the nations of Europe are forced to accept the consequences of their “pooled” sovereignty, the sooner the reaction against the EU leviathan will begin in earnest. Having it both ways gives the centralizers cover (which is why, keen though they are to act like a state themselves, they’ll defend these symbols of vestigial member state sovereignty to the bitter end). I don’t know if it’s fully appreciated overseas just how little Europeans – all of them; politicians included – realise that the EU is their supreme government, rather than the co-operative international club it was once sold as. Force them to face the truth. Bring it on.
Sam Duncan
24 Oct 12 at 6:34 am
Small point, but according to this we do not have Embassies in Prague, Talinn, Riga or Ljubljana.
Sturt
24 Oct 12 at 9:31 am