María Castillo Fernández begins her mandate as EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific

María Castillo Fernández begins her mandate as Special Envoy of the European Union for the Indo‑Pacific as of September 2025. In this capacity, she will support the implementation of the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo‑Pacific (2021) and the 2025 Council Conclusions to strengthen the partnership between both regions, which are closely interlinked through our economies and the need to address common challenges. 

Ambassador Castillo brings nearly two decades of hands‑on experience working in and on the Indo‑Pacific, a region where the EU is a key investor and trading partner. Most recently, she served as EU Ambassador to the Republic of Korea until August 2025. Throughout her career, she has held responsibilities spanning a range of countries in the region, also including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Malaysia, etc.

“As Special Envoy, my objective is to deepen the EU’s engagement with the Indo‑Pacific as a reliable, long‑term partner—grounded in our shared commitment to the international rules‑based order. Working with Indo-Pacific partners, Member States, regional partners and civil society, I will focus on our deepening cooperation to address common challenges, from economic and maritime security to digital connectivity, green transition and sustainable development, so that together we can deliver shared stability, opportunity and resilience.” 

Through her efforts, the Special Envoy will help ensure coherence and impact across the EU’s bilateral and regional engagements, working in close partnership with Member States and EU Delegations in the region to deliver a stable, secure and prosperous Indo‑Pacific that benefits Europeans and our partners alike. 

Extensive experience across the Indo‑Pacific

Ambassador Castillo’s background reflects the EU’s deep and longstanding engagement with the region. From 2020 to August 2025, she served as EU Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, leading the EU’s political, economic and sectoral cooperation with Seoul. Prior to that, she was EU Ambassador to Malaysia (2016–2020), and from 2012 to 2016 she headed the EEAS division responsible for India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, managing the EU’s overall relations with these South Asian partners and with SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). Between 2008 and 2012 she represented the EU as Head of Office in Hong Kong and Macao SARs; from 2005 to 2008 she was Deputy Head of Mission at the EU Delegation in Seoul, responsible for EU political relations and economic cooperation with both the Republic of Korea and the DPRK. Earlier, in Brussels, she oversaw the European Commission’s relations with the Korean Peninsula (2000–2005), served as Desk Officer for relations with Russia (1996–2000) and worked as a legal adviser/administrator on research programmes (1990–1996). 

She completed postgraduate studies in European law, economics, and international relations with two masters, one at the College of Europe (Bruges, Belgium) and a second at the Institute of European Studies (Strasbourg, France) following a degree in law from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). In 2008 she was awarded the Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Mérito Civil by the King of Spain for strengthening EU relations with the Korean Peninsula—recognition for sustained diplomacy in one of the Indo‑Pacific’s most sensitive theatres. A Spanish national, she works in Spanish, English, French, Dutch and German, and also speaks Korean—an asset that has supported her extensive field experience.