The Diplomat
The Council of Ministers approved last Tuesday the referral to the Spanish Parliament of the agreement between Spain and Niger that allows the free exercise of remunerated activities to the dependent family members of employees of diplomatic missions and consular posts of one of the two countries who are posted on official mission in the territory of the other. It also authorized the expression of Spain’s consent to be bound by such agreement.
The purpose of the agreement is to gather and legally regulate the interests and expectations of the dependent family members of diplomatic agents, consular and administrative officials and of the personnel of the representations to international organizations with regard to remunerated activities. Following authorization by the Council of Ministers in April 2009, the agreement was signed in Niamey on October 29, 2018.
According to the Government, this agreement responds to “the constant evolution of social structures and mentality in Spanish society in recent years”, which “has been affecting the figure of the dependent family member of foreign service officers and has shaped a type, different from the traditional one, who possesses an academic degree, a technical preparation and a work experience that he or she would like to develop while accompanying his or her partner in the performance of a mission abroad”. “So that these legitimate expectations can be translated into reality, agreements such as this one are negotiated with certain countries with which there is a mutual interest in this field”, the Executive added.
