Diplomatic service

Subjects of international law, as a rule, States and international organizations, use of for the care of their interstate relations since about the 18th century diplomatic and consular representations abroad in order to assert their interests in the host country according to the rules of international law. The sent to the missions abroad staff, together with the officials of the Foreign Ministry in the home country of the foreign service of the sending country.

The concept of foreign service is not to be confused with the term of the Diplomatic Corps, which is the sum of all foreign diplomats in a host country.

The legal relationship between the host countries and the foreign diplomats accredited there are regulated by the diplomatic law; this granted to foreign diplomats certain privileges of a fiscal nature and in particular protection against enforcement measures ( " immunities " ), which are in connection with their public ( service ) activity.

Originally designed as a voluntary activity, put the takeover of the office of diplomats ahead (eg, as an envoy ) abroad that the applicant had substantial income that it allowed him to maintain a representative residing abroad. Added to this was necessarily an explicit relationship to the constitutional head of the sending country, ie usually to a king or emperor. From this legislative history explains why until the 20th century the nobility in diplomacy was not only numerically well represented, but also enjoyed certain privileges career. The sooner in some cases upper-class, but today of career officials usually imperfectly acquired manners in diplomacy stir well from the feudal history of the Foreign Service, as it always adhering to the accusations of patronage.

Situation in Germany

Situation in Austria

Situation in Switzerland

European Union

The Lisbon Treaty provides for the establishment of a European External Action Service (EEAS ), which increasingly represent the European Union towards third countries and to pool expertise. The abolition of the diplomatic missions of the Member States is not provided. The service aims to build on the European Commission delegations in third countries, which are supplemented by staff from the EU Council Secretariat and the national diplomatic services.