Nearly 2 800 people work in foreign service, of whom almost a half in foreign service posts. In the period 2010 - 2013 (1st half), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced recruitment 283 times for 313.5 full-time jobs. The majority of recruitment procedures audited by NIK were carried out in a way ensuring openness and competitiveness of candidates’ selection, as set out in the Civil Service Act. The openness of proceedings was guaranteed at all stages of the recruitment procedure. The candidates were evaluated by committees composed of several persons, diligently working and documenting their work. The Director General hired persons pointed by the committees.
The NIK audit identified some irregularities in recruitment for functions in foreign service posts. Six of 38 audited positions in foreign service (15.8 percent) were staffed without using the recruitment procedure provided for in the Civil Service Act. The Ministry explained that there are no relevant provisions in the Foreign Service Act. NIK emphasises, though, that its provisions refer to the Civil Service Act (in issues not set out there) which clearly requires open and competitive recruitment of employees.
NIK points out as well that the Minister uses the ”special procedure” in too many cases when awarding diplomatic degrees. In the audited period nearly a half (9 in 20 cases covered by the audit) were awarded in line with the ”special procedure”, laid out in art. 12 sec. 2 of the Foreign Service Act. It says that in particularly justified cases a diplomatic degree may be temporarily awarded to a person who is a foreign service member and does not meet all requirements arising from the Foreign Service Act. As a consequence, diplomatic degrees were awarded to people who did not complete the diplomatic internship, did not pass the diplomatic and consular exam or did not have documented proficiency in at least two foreign languages.
NIK has recommended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conduct open and competitive recruitment for civil servants in foreign service posts and also limit the practice of awarding diplomatic degrees using special procedures to persons who do not meet requirements for foreign service members. NIK underlines that the exception provided for in the law may not become a rule. Other irregularities were of formal nature and did not have any significant impact on the quality of staff or the proceedings results.
