European Commission officials Federica Mogherini and Vera Jourová explain how European citizens in trouble outside the union can seek help.

Every year, Europeans make 90 million trips outside the EU for business or pleasure.

More than 30 million EU citizens live permanently outside the union. With so many working and travelling abroad, having strong consular protection for everyone is paramount.

The right to consular protection is enshrined in the EU treaties.

It guarantees that all European citizens, travelling or living outside the EU, have the right to ask for assistance from any EU consulate or embassy, if their own country is not represented.

There are only four countries – the US, China, India and Russia – where all member states have embassy or consulate representation

This is European solidarity put in practice. Europeans can rely on a worldwide safety net.

There are only four countries in the world: the US, China, India and Russia, where all 28 member states are represented by embassies or consulates.

This means that many of our citizens who find themselves in a difficult situation abroad cannot always rely on help from their own home country.

Therefore we need to work together to make sure that our citizens are protected wherever they go.

This protection covers everyday situations, such as a passport being stolen or lost, a serious accident or illness, or being victims of a crime.

It applies also to emergencies, such as a natural disaster or political unrest, which might require evacuation.

Last week, the EU adopted new consular protection rules to strengthen this safety net. With this reform, we ensure the right to consular protection works smoothly on the ground.

The rules set out concrete measures on how member states should coordinate and cooperate and make it clearer for citizens what their consular rights mean in practice.

For example, if the assistance implies certain costs or fees, then unrepresented citizens will not have to pay more for consular services than the citizens of the country from which they receive help.

The new rules also specify to what extent citizens’ non-EU family members are eligible for help.

Last but not least, citizens can get information on the assistance they are entitled to by contacting one of the 139 EU delegations around the world.

Our overarching aim is to help citizens wherever in the world they are in need.

Citizens expect and deserve that their governments, and Europe as a whole, will protect them.

We are convinced that these new rules enacted by the EU will help us achieve this in practice.

Maltese embassies and consulates

• Albania
• Algeria
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• The Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Korea (South)
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Madagascar
• Malaysia
• Mali
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Nicaragua
• Nepal
• New Zealand
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Panama
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Paraguay
• The Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Swaziland​
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Syria
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Trindad and Tobago
• Ukraine
• The UK
• The US
• Uruguay
• Vietnam

More details at http://foreignaffairs.gov.mt .

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