Lithuanian parliament backs changes to diplomatic service rules

Lithuania’s parliament has backed amendments to the Diplomatic Service Law at the review stage, proposing changes to incentives, compensation and diplomats’ contracts. The vote was unanimous, LRT reported. The bill still needs a final vote.

The amendments, submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received the support of 98 MPs in an earlier vote in September. No MPs voted against or abstained.

Under current rules, only diplomats whose performance is assessed as exceeding expectations can qualify for promotion, a higher salary or other incentives. The ministry proposes allowing incentives for diplomats whose performance meets expectations. The foreign minister could increase their salary coefficient by between 0.06 and 0.11, or fund professional development. The value of the incentive would be capped at half the diplomat’s annual salary.

The bill would also provide for compensation to diplomats or their family members for direct material damage related to an appointment, removal from a post or transfer to work at a diplomatic mission. The ministry says such compensation is not currently regulated.

The ministry also wants to change the rules on recalling diplomats from annual leave. Currently, a diplomat can be recalled only with their consent. The proposed changes would allow a recall without consent when unforeseen circumstances make it necessary to carry out the ministry’s duties, for example, providing consular services at a diplomatic mission, and no replacement is available.

Costs incurred in such cases, including flights bought with personal funds and cancellations of private holidays, have not been reimbursed. The bill would establish a mechanism to compensate diplomats and their family members for material losses resulting from a recall.

Candidates who win a competition to join the diplomatic service would receive a standard diplomatic service contract with a six-month probationary period, instead of a fixed-term contract for a preparatory period. The foreign minister could reduce probation to three months. During the period, the candidate’s suitability for diplomatic service would be assessed, and the candidate could decide whether the work was suitable for them.

The ministry says the change would reduce administrative work by avoiding the need to end one contract, settle outstanding matters such as compensation for unused leave, and then hire the diplomat again under a new contract.

The amendments would also align the terms available to ministry employees working under employment contracts at diplomatic missions, including providing for certain cases in which they could receive open-ended contracts. The ministry says the contract type would depend on the mission’s needs, its work arrangements and the security situation in the country.