How Spain organizes its foreign action and embassies

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law defines three concepts: Foreign Policy (the Government's decisions abroad), the State's Foreign Action (everything constitutional bodies and public administrations do abroad) and the State's Foreign Service (the bodies and resources that carry both out).
2. It sets seven guiding principles for Foreign Action: unity of action abroad, institutional loyalty and coordination, planning, efficiency, effectiveness and specialization, transparency, and service to the general interest.
3. Autonomous Communities, Autonomous Cities and local entities must inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about their trips, visits and activities abroad, and they cannot represent the State or sign international treaties.
4. The Government approves the Foreign Action Strategy, valid for four years, and an Annual Report on how it is being carried out. Both are prepared with input from all ministries and other public administrations.
5. A consular emergency group is created to coordinate assistance to Spaniards during crises abroad. If someone voluntarily exposes themselves to risks already flagged in travel recommendations, the Government can require them to repay the assistance provided.
6. Ambassadors direct and coordinate all State bodies in the country where they are accredited, and Shared Services Sections can be set up in diplomatic missions to manage shared resources and save money.
7. The law provides for cooperation with the European Union and with Ibero-American countries: joint diplomatic missions, joint sectoral offices and joint consular offices in third countries, and offices of the Autonomous Communities inside Foreign Service premises.
8. The law strengthens support for the families of civil servants posted abroad, with aid for children's schooling, health coverage and ways for spouses or partners to work in the destination country.

Who it affects

• Spanish citizens abroad: They receive assistance and protection from consular offices, and a consular emergency group is activated in a crisis.
• Spanish companies: The Foreign Service supports them abroad and promotes the internationalization of the Spanish economy.
• Autonomous Communities and local entities: They must report their activities and trips abroad, and their foreign offices need prior Government review.
• Foreign Service civil servants and their families: They get ongoing training, schooling aid, health coverage and help for their partners to work at the posting.
• Translators and interpreters: Official translations are only valid if done by a sworn translator certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Words worth knowing

Servicio Exterior del Estado (State Foreign Service)

All the embassies, consulates and other bodies and resources of the Spanish administration working outside Spain.

Misión Diplomática (diplomatic mission)

Spain's official representation before a foreign state, that is, the embassy.

Oficina Consular (consular office)

The body that provides help and protection to Spaniards abroad, such as consulates.

Plenipotencia (full powers)

Official authorization to represent the State when signing an international treaty.

Traductor-Intérprete Jurado (sworn translator)

A certification, granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that allows someone to make official translations of documents.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries