Luis Ayllón
The measure adopted by Emmanuel Macron’s government to abolish the French diplomatic corps by integrating its members into the same status as other state administrators has sparked numerous comments among Spanish diplomats.
Although some are concerned that a similar measure could be adopted in Spain, the Association of Spanish Diplomats (ADE) told The Diplomat that the general feeling is that in our country the issue is not in the political debate.
Carlos Medina, president of the ADE, which groups 70% of Spanish diplomats, stresses that the French Foreign Service model has many differences with the Spanish one, which includes not only members of the diplomatic corps, but also other bodies such as commercial technicians.
At the moment,” he pointed out, “this debate is not taking place in Spain. There is no questioning of the diplomatic career, and we believe that the work of its members is recognised by society and by political forces.
As a corps, we diplomats,” he stressed, “have had specific training that is different from that of other corps, and we have acquired experience throughout our professional careers, both in Spain and abroad, which allows us to serve Spaniards abroad in an appropriate manner and to serve the interests of the country.
Medina stated that, at present, the problem they are facing is the lack of resources, which is causing a “degradation of the foreign service”, something that was already denounced on 30 March in a communiqué issued by the ADE.
The president of the association also recalled that the approval by the government of a new Regulation of the Diplomatic Career is pending, about which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed them that it will be ready during this year, and which, among other things, would give greater legal certainty to diplomats in their actions.
