The European Commission on Tuesday published proposals for boosting consular protection for European Union passport holders abroad, including the introduction of joint offices where national embassies are unavailable.

The proposals, designed to deal with emergency situations such as the Asian tsunami or the conflict in Lebanon, include the creation of "joint offices" in tourist areas where member states are poorly represented, such as the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the Balkans and southern Africa.

These could cut down costs and streamline procedures.

"The need for protection is particularly important in regard to the considerable increase in travel to third countries, combined with the fact that member states do not always have permanent and accessible representation in third countries," the Commission said in information to be circulated to interested parties for comment.

Citizens of EU states make approximately 180 million trips outside the 25-nation bloc every year.

"Adequate protection of EU citizens abroad has to be granted to the increasing number of people who travel, work and live outside the EU," said EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini.

There are currently only three countries where all 25 EU member states are represented -- China, Russia and the United States.

According to rules already in place, any EU citizen can use the consular services of another EU state if their own country is not represented in a third country.

The areas covered for such intervention are arrest or detention, a serious accident or illness, a death or to aid a citizen otherwise in distress.

One problem, according to the EU's executive arm, is that people simply do not know this.

Only 23 percent of European citizens know their rights in this area, according to Commission figures, while half plan a trip outside the Union within the next three years.

Recent catastrophes, such as the December 2004 Asian tsunami, illustrated the need to go further in offering protection, according to Brussels.

The Commission is also considering extending consular protection to EU citizens' family members who do not hold EU passports, and to simplifying the procedures for advancing cash in cases of sudden need.