Congress calls for the creation of “at least” 90 diplomatic posts abroad within a maximum of two years

Eduardo González The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress has called on the Government to create "at least" 90 new permanent diplomatic posts in the foreign network "within a maximum of two years" to strengthen embassies and consulates that "require an urgent expansion of their staff." The Non-Law Proposal -presented by the People's Party (PP) Parliamentary Group, voted on June 17, and approved with the PSOE voting against-, warns, in its explanatory statement, that, "in recent years," the Spanish consular network has experienced "an alarming process of deterioration." "As indicated in the latest report by the Association of Spanish Diplomats (ADE), published in May 2025, the Spanish consular network is experiencing a situation of functional collapse due to budgetary insufficiency and an exponential increase in demand for consular services," it continues. The motion also states that the number of Spaniards registered in Spanish consular offices has increased from less than one million at the beginning of the century to more than three million today. "Added to this phenomenon is the multiplier effect resulting from the implementation of the Democratic Memory Law, which could raise this figure to nearly four million in the coming years." Diplomatic staffing, however, "has remained virtually unchanged for more than two decades, and many key offices operate with just two diplomats: the ambassador and a second," the document states. At the same time, it continues, the largest consulates, especially in Latin America, face temporary employment rates exceeding 50%, "which compromises the quality, continuity, and stability of service." "All of this translates into an unacceptable deterioration in citizen service, an excessive workload for staff, and serious damage to the State's external image," it adds. For all these reasons, the motion urges the Government to "implement a plan, with a defined timeline and budget, that contemplates the creation of at least ninety new permanent diplomatic positions in the foreign network within a maximum period of two years, with the aim of strengthening embassies and consulates that urgently require an expansion of their staff." It also asks the Executive to ensure compliance with the 2014 Law on State Action and Foreign Service, "urging the Executive Council on Foreign Policy to urgently prepare a report on the adequacy of the deployment and structure of diplomatic missions, permanent representations, and consular offices." The two points were voted on separately. The first, regarding the 90 new positions, was approved thanks to a weighted vote, with 17 votes in favor, 17 against, and two abstentions. The second received the favorable vote of Sumar, the minority partner in Pedro Sánchez's coalition government. The ADE Following the approval of the text, the Association of Spanish Diplomats issued a statement on Wednesday in which it "thanks Congress" for approving this parliamentary initiative, "the result of the ADE's appearance, along with FEDECA, CSIF, and CCOO, before the aforementioned Committee on May 27, when our association conveyed to the spokespersons of the parliamentary groups a series of demands that require urgent measures." According to the ADE, the figure of 90 additional positions "corresponds, approximately, to the positions of deputy consul general in consulates where there are none, plus a third diplomat in embassies that only have two on staff." “This institutional strengthening must be accompanied by salary increases for local employees whose wages are below labor market levels, as well as improved working conditions for all personnel abroad (conciliation, updated school allowances, family support, residency permits, etc.),” the association warns. “Personnel abroad defend Spanish interests and serve our fellow citizens, and their working conditions must be decent and adequate,” it adds. Furthermore, it continues, the second measure recalls “an unfulfilled legal mandate” since the Law on State Action and Foreign Service came into force. According to the ADE, the report “involves a detailed analysis of the various types of resources available to the entire Foreign Service” in order to “determine the possibility of their most efficient use and also to provide additional resources to the units that require them.” “The Law itself considers this exercise essential to align resources and means with the objectives of our foreign policy,” it adds. "The ADE considers this political decision by the Congress of Deputies to be a significant awareness of the needs of the Foreign Service, and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, in particular, and an important impetus for the Government to adopt measures in this regard," the statement concludes.

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