§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries where the European Union takes on the responsibility of representing individual countries of the European Union those countries do not have direct representation.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe European Union does not have a legal personality. In particular it does not represent individual member states. Under article J.5.1 of the Treaty on European Union the presidency is responsible for representing the European Union on issues of foreign and security policy where member states have an agreed policy. This sometimes involves the presidency taking action in a third country where not all the member states have diplomatic representation. In those countries where the presidency itself does not have a diplomatic mission, another member state acts on the presidency's behalf.
The presidency also represents the European Union where necessary in business under the justice and home affairs pillar. In matters of Community competence—example trade—which require action in third countries, the European Commission can represent the member states. On 1 July 1993 consular guidelines agreed by member states came into effect. Subject to local circumstances nationals of a member state who require consular assistance in a country or place where that member state has no accessible consular or diplomatic representation may seek the help of a permanent diplomatic or consular post of another member state.