The Council of Albanian Ambassadors (CAA) has learned that the new draft law on the Foreign Service, prepared approximately two years ago by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA), has once again been submitted to the Albanian Parliament for review by the relevant committees and subsequent approval in plenary session.
As it appears, the draft law remains unchanged from its original version of two years ago and does not take into account any of the recommendations proposed by the CAA or other stakeholders during the public consultation process. The draft law remains a politically driven document and bears no relation to a professional diplomatic career system.
In its public positions, since August 2024, the Council of Albanian Ambassadors has stated that such a draft law is unconstitutional, anti-administrative and fundamentally undermines the diplomatic career system built over more than a quarter of a century. In its formal letter to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the CAA outlined concrete recommendations and amendments in both letter and spirit. None of these proposals have been taken into account.
To express its non-consensual position, the Council of Albanian Ambassadors has requested the Parliamentary Committee on Europe and Foreign Affairs to organize a hearing with the CAA and other interested stakeholders before any decision is taken to move the draft law to plenary approval.
The CAA maintains its position that Albania’s diplomacy needs a law that strengthens the professional diplomatic career, following the damage caused by Law No. 23/2015, and not the current draft law, which ultimately buries career diplomacy by placing it under political and partisan control.
The Council of Albanian Ambassadors believes that the diplomatic career system should not be determined by day-to-day politics, but by the career diplomacy itself through professional commissions, led by the Secretary General of the Ministry as the highest-ranking civil servant. Evaluation procedures, leadership competencies, the diplomatic ranking system and professional accountability must be strengthened.
In conclusion, the CAA calls on the Parliament of the Republic of Albania not to approve this draft law and to return it for substantial improvement. The CAA stands ready to contribute in defense of career diplomacy and Albania’s national interests.
