The restructuring means, among other things, that more of our missions will be bolstered, for example with regard to Denmark’s work in the EU, NATO, the UN, the Arctic, Africa, as well as with regard to our export initiatives. In all, 16 missions and 9 departments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ headquarters in Copenhagen will be strengthened.
– My first priority as Minister of Foreign Affairs is to ensure the security and safety of the Danish people in a world where democracy, human rights, and our values are coming under increasing pressure. This reorganisation is to help us target the efforts we make, both here at home and out in the world, so that we can make the biggest possible difference. The grave development in Afghanistan the last couple of weeks calls for reflection, and we need time to digest and analyse this in cooperation with the Danish Parliament. Following that process, the government will at a later stage present a new foreign and security policy strategy, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod.
Prior to the reorganisation of the foreign service, the most comprehensive analysis of the work and the structure of the Danish foreign service since the Foreign Commission in 1989/90 at the end of the Cold War was carried out. The reorganisation will contribute to the implementation of Denmark’s new strategy for development cooperation “The world we share”.
In connection with the reorganisation, the embassies in Argentina and Tanzania are also being closed, along with the Consulate General in Chongqing (China) and the trade mission in Barcelona (Spain). In addition, a number of efficiency measures will be carried out, for example in the areas of energy, procurement and properties.
For additional information press contact:
pressevagten@um.dk and tel. +45 61979247 (not SMS)
