As a complement to the Government Offices ethical guidelines, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has produced ethical guidelines for service abroad, focusing on situations that may arise when serving abroad or when on official travel outside Sweden. It may be useful for accompanying partners to also be aware of these, as they are often perceived as representatives of Sweden.
Holding a diplomatic or service passport entails responsibility.
Both the Government Offices Ethical Guidelines and the Ethical Guidelines for Service Abroad are available on Klaranätet.
The ethical guidelines for service abroad focuses on the following areas:
- Official representative or private person
- Working culture
- Improper use of power
- Corruption
- Accepting and giving gifts, etc.
- Private business and the diplomatic assignment
- Disqualification and the financial responsibility of heads of missions
- Purchase of sexual services, etc.
- Alcohol, narcotics and other drugs
- Consequences of alcohol and drug problems
- Compensation for additional costs, etc.
- Official entertainment
- Shipping belongings and additional items
- Accompanying partners
Excerpt from Klaranätet under the heading Accompanying partners:
“The Ministry for Foreign Affairs endeavours to facilitate the employment of accompanying partners in the city of posting. Agreements on the relaxation of requirements for work permits for accompanying partners have been entered into with a number of countries. However, such work may not involve a conflict of interest with the activities conducted by the mission abroad. Please also see the section on disqualification.
Regarding accompanying partners who are on leave of absence from employment at the Government Offices or another government agency, particular attention must be paid to the regulations on secondary occupations that may undermine public confidence.”
The following is stated under the heading Disqualification and the financial responsibility of heads of missions:
“If the head of mission intends to employ, engage as a paid consultant or retain as a trainee their accompanying partner or some other person close to them, the matter must be referred to the Ministry (head of UD P). The same procedure applies if the head intends to approve a trip for their accompanying partner financed by the mission’s budget. If the head decides to travel to Sweden on official business, the Ministry (management recruiter) must be informed.
If a matter should arise of a secondary occupation that may undermine public confidence, it must first be examined by the head of mission. The matter may also be forwarded to the Ministry (Director-General for Administrative Affairs).”