PLANS to expand the Scottish Government’s overseas offices in Europe are on hold as ministers prepare for spending cuts.
Nicola Sturgeon's administration promised to open new headquarters in Copenhagen and Warsaw to promote Scotland overseas in the wake of Brexit.
The Bute House Agreement, signed by Sturgeon and the Scottish Greens in August 2021, but which collapsed in April, stated: "To strengthen Scotland’s international relationships, presence and voice we will: establish Scottish Government offices in Copenhagen and Warsaw to promote Scotland’s interests and reputation in the Nordic and Central European regions.”
But while the Copenhagen office opened in 2022, ministers have put the Warsaw plan "under review," the Herald on Sunday reports.
The move comes as Finance Secretary Shona Robison (above) has put in place emergency spending controls amid fears over Government finances.
She is to give a statement to Holyrood early next month where she is expected to set out significant public sector cuts amid what she has described as "profound financial pressures".
A Scottish Government spokesperson has said that plans to open an office in Warsaw before May 2026 were “under review".
The spokesperson said: “International offices are maintained by all devolved governments and Scotland’s network has served and been supported by ministers from a range of administrations for decades.
“Our plans to open an office in Warsaw will be considered as part of the wider review of government spending. It is necessary to ensure resources are used economically, efficiently and effectively, and high levels of scrutiny are applied to expenditure.
“Scotland’s international network attracts investment and creates domestic opportunities and benefits for the people of Scotland. We will continue to work with our friends and partners in Europe and beyond to reaffirm diplomatic ties, improve our global networks and unlock new economic and trading opportunities.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie (below) said that it would be "deeply regrettable" if the Warsaw office did not go ahead, pointing to Scotland’s large Polish community as evidence of the ties between the two countries.
He said: “Scotland is an open and outward looking nation, and our international offices have a key role to play in boosting trade and cultural links and giving us a greater presence on the world stage.
“That role is even more important at a time when 14 years of Tory rule and a disastrous Brexit have tarnished and undermined so many of our most important relationships, and when the UK is cut off from our nearest neighbours.
"From peacebuilding to the climate crisis, so many of the biggest challenges we face are international in scale and we need to build bridges and work with our allies to tackle them, particularly when there has been a total absence of any kind of global leadership from Downing Street.
“Scotland can play an active and compassionate role in the world, and these offices are an important part of that vision. There is a thriving Polish community in Scotland and longstanding links between our two countries. It would be deeply regrettable if this office was lost and Scotland’s global voice was weakened.”
While first minister, Sturgeon opened the Scottish Government’s international office in Copenhagen in August 2022 bringing the number of overseas offices – dubbed quasi embassies by some – to nine, including its London headquarters.
Following Brexit, the Scottish Government sought to further develop its international footprint, opening new offices in London (the Scottish Government classes this as an international office), Berlin, Paris and now Copenhagen.
These offices complemented the Scottish Government’s existing offices in Brussels, Dublin, Beijing, Ottawa and Washington DC.
The international offices budget of £9.13 million comes from the External Affairs budget, which was worth a total of £33.4m in 2022-23, according to a Scottish Parliament research briefing.
EU experts were not surprised to hear that the Warsaw office is now under review given the major financial problems facing the Scottish Government.
However, they warned that ministers in Edinburgh needed to think strategically about the purposes of its overseas offices.
Anthony Salamone, managing director of consultancy European Merchants, said: “It is hardly surprising that the Scottish Government might be thinking twice about opening new international offices, given Scotland's seemingly dire fiscal position.”
He has previously been sceptical of the value of the planned Warsaw office, suggesting an office in southern Europe or The Hague might have made more sense.
Salamone added: "These government offices can certainly generate benefits for Scotland on trade, investment, education, culture and other areas. At the same time, they are also entirely optional.
"In that light, it was always the case that the Scottish Government should have justified, in specific terms, why it wanted to open new international offices and why it wanted to choose particular cities for them.
"As a case in point, it was never exactly clear why the Scottish Government intended to open an office in Warsaw. To develop the bilateral relationship with Poland? To boost trade with Eastern Europe? To fill out the map of Europe with Scottish Government representations? The question remains to be answered.
"Without that strategic clarity, it is difficult to assess whether the right cities have been selected for Scotland's international offices or whether the offices are delivering the benefits intended.”
Salamone added: "Given the fiscal straights, the obvious question is whether the Scottish Government now rationalises its existing international offices. After all, countries close embassies and representations, as well as open them."
Europe expert Kirsty Hughes said: "The Scottish government has developed a successful European network of offices promoting culture, trade and wider connections.
"It will be a pity if the Poland office does not open, as the current network is only in western Europe. But the long-standing Brussels based EU office gives access to political and diplomatic networks from all EU member states and beyond, so it still allows for an active para- diplomacy by the Scottish Government."
The Herald on Sunday asked the Scottish Government if its existing overseas offices were under review.
A spokesman said: “International offices are maintained by all devolved governments and our network has served and been supported by ministers from a range of administrations for decades. Their work delivers benefits for Scotland’s people, businesses and institutions.”
