As part of the initiatives taken to improve the image and efficiency of the Honorary Vice Consulates, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has started a process of evaluation regarding the future of the Vice Consulates with no appointed holders and which have been inactive for more than 5 years.
The initiative, concerning 48 Honorary Vice Consulates (36 with no appointed holders for at least 5 years, 12 with no appointed holders since their establishment) out of the 500 offices composing the whole network, proved to be useful not only to track an updated framework of their real functioning but also to reflect on the functioning of the second category network, which allowed the allocation of appointment and identification procedures regarding honorary consuls of inactive consulates.
27 out of 48 currently inactive offices have been closed. Eight of them had never been headed by any appointed holders. Later on, Embassies and Consulates will discuss on the need and opportunity to eventually reactivate the remaining 21 honorary offices. In the context of a better reorganization and innovation of the network, the Official Gazette reported such closing some days ago. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does confirm its commitment in order to provide for a more efficient and detailed service to its citizens around the world.
