Why the EU is unlikely to slash its diplomatic delegations

Sensitive budget talks are eyeing the EU's administrative machinery and global funding as the most likely targets for deep cuts. But the delegation network is already being reorganised, and small European countries, as well as companies, rely on it heavily.European governments are locked in tense negotiations over the bloc's next long-term budget, with the administrative costs of EU institutions abroad and the global programme the most likely casualties. But small countries have much to lose if the EU's global diplomatic network shrinks.A coalition of so-called "frugal" countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, is pushing to cut the proposed size of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU's budget for 2028-2034, by several hundred billion euros.According to the ongoing discussions, there is broad consensus among member states on cutting spending dedicated to the EU institutions, while the Global Europe Fund also faces significant reductions from the levels the European Commission…