The Office of the Federal Foreign Office has come under sharp criticism from the Federal Court of Auditors over the creation of the new Federal Agency for Foreign Affairs. A report to the Bundestag’s Budget Committee, cited by the news magazine Politico, states that several essential financial and administrative steps were either omitted or carried out inadequately. “This exposes the federal budget to significant financial risks from uncontrolled downstream effects” the auditors warned, adding that the new agency may fail to fulfil its intended mission.
The agency, headquartered in Brandenburg an der Havel, was established in 2021 when Heiko Maas (SPD) served as Foreign Minister. It was intended to relieve the Foreign Office of certain non‑ministerial duties, such as processing visa applications for skilled workers. Expectations for the agency are high, and the government plans to set up a so‑called “Work‑and‑Stay” agency that would become the central point of contact for prospective migrant workers and streamline related procedures.
The report to the Budget Committee also notes that the Foreign Office will assess the new agency’s cost‑effectiveness and is expected to present findings by the end of the year.
