ROME-Up to 110 million euros could be saved within the next three years from a 20 percent cut to Italian diplomats’ income, announced Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini.

 The reform proposal presented Thursday in the Senate predicts savings of 16 mln euros in 2014, to be followed by 42 mln in 2015 and 52 mln in 2016, from wage reductions for ambassadors, advisors, and ministers plenipotentiary. The changes will not affect the diplomats’ fixed salary paid them in Italy, however, but rather the extra budget covering their expenses abroad.

 “The current diplomatic service allowance requires an in-depth revision due to its scarce legibility, owing to its all-inclusive character, which lends itself well to exploitation,” stated Signora Mogherini. The upcoming budget cuts, already drawn up during Emma Bonino’s tenure, will follow “Western models of diplomatic service,” she declared, “but without any simple transpositions,” which would entail unnecessary additional costs due to the implementation of a new system.

 The reform will involve, first of all, breaking down the expenses of Italian diplomatic staff, with wages separated from direct costs, and secondly, a bill regulating salaries paid abroad, to be approved by September 2014.

 According to Signora Mogherini, the Italian Foreign Ministry “continues to be among the least expensive administrations (0.2 percent of the government budget), both nationally and internationally,” and has already contributed to reductions in public spending with a one-fifth cut of the diplomatic personnel and the total budget reduced by 25 percent compared to 2008.

 “The reform is necessary to make the remuneration more legible and transparent,” said the Italian ambassador in London, Pasquale Terracciano, “this way it will become clear that most of us spend that kind of money to make things work.”