News

On 8 October, at the “Employ the Future 2026” careers fair in Klaipėda, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys took part in a discussion entitled “What will the diplomat of the future look like? Career opportunities in foreign policy”. Together with Eglė Stonkė, a doctoral candidate at Klaipėda University, and Dr Ilvija Pikturnaitė, Associate Professor at Klaipėdos valstybinės kolegija/Higher Education Institution, he discussed the qualities and skills needed by young people seeking to build a career in diplomacy and foreign policy.

According to Minister Budrys, a career in Lithuania’s diplomatic service and the institutions of the European Union requires much more than expertise in the social sciences, and these institutions increasingly need talent from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

“Today’s diplomat does not need to be solely an expert in international relations or law. The diplomats of the future will be those who can combine expertise from different fields, harness technology in their work and respond swiftly to a constantly changing world,” said Budrys.

The event also highlighted Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union (LT27EU) as another opportunity for the country to develop a new generation of specialists. The skills gained through the Presidency will not only support careers in Lithuania but will also help strengthen Lithuania’s voice in Europe and around the world, particularly in addressing global challenges and shaping important decisions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hosted a stand at the fair, where participants could learn more about employment and internship opportunities at the Ministry and find out more about Lithuania’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Ministry’s participation in the fair forms part of the preparations for LT27EU. The preparation period provides an opportunity to engage local communities and professionals from a variety of fields, while encouraging political, economic and social issues to be examined from a range of different perspectives.