María Lledó

Spanish diplomat with an outstanding career in international relations and European affairs. María holds a degree in Economics from the Autonomous University of Madrid and a degree in Political Science from UNED. She entered the diplomatic corps in July of 1999, establishing a career marked by her commitment to international cooperation and community policy.

Throughout her career, she has held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation. At the central headquarters, she served as Head of the Consular Action Service in the General Directorate of Legal and Consular Affairs, and as Head of the Coordination and Cooperation Service in the General Directorate of Political Affairs and for the United Nations. Additionally, she was an advisory member in the minister’s cabinet and Director of the Cabinet of the Secretary of State for International Cooperation.

Her experience within the European Union is also extensive, having served as Deputy Permanent Representative to the Political and Security Committee and Parliamentary Affairs Advisor in Spain’s Representation to the EU. Furthermore, she held the position of Director-General for the Internal Market and Other Community Policies and Deputy Director-General for Foreign Cultural Promotion in the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports.

In 2021, she was appointed Secretary General for the European Union, taking on the responsibility of coordinating preparations for the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2023. In this role, she played a key part in organizing Spain’s political and diplomatic agenda within the EU framework, strengthening its influence in community decisions.