The Spanish government is preparing for a significant diplomatic reshuffle: Emma Aparici (Emma Aparici Vázquez de Parga), currently the Secretary for International Affairs in the Prime Minister’s office, will soon head Spain’s embassy in the United Kingdom. Her appointment is expected to be approved at the next Cabinet meeting. This decision will be one of the key foreign policy personnel moves for the country in 2025.
Aparici is a career diplomat with more than twenty years of experience. She is known as a trusted confidante of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. In recent years, she has overseen the prime minister’s international agenda, accompanied him on official trips abroad, and participated in high-level negotiations. Diplomatic circles describe her as a detail-oriented and collaborative leader who has a talent for building rapport with colleagues.
Path to the Embassy
The future ambassador received a law degree from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and studied at Università di Bologna under the Erasmus program. Her resume also includes a leadership program for civil servants at IESE. She began her government career in 2018, heading the coordination unit for international affairs and global security in the President’s office.
In 2020, just before the pandemic began, Aparisi was appointed director of the Department of International Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Office. In November 2023, she was named Secretary General for International Affairs, receiving the rank of deputy minister. During this time, she has become one of the key figures shaping Spain’s foreign policy.
Experience and recognition
Colleagues praise her organizational skills and ability to make quick decisions in complex situations. Government officials emphasize that it is precisely these qualities that enabled her steady rise through the ranks. Her professionalism and teamwork have made her an indispensable asset in diplomatic missions and negotiations.
Before joining the prime minister’s administration, Aparisi served as deputy head of mission at the Spanish Embassy in Tripoli (Libya), which at the time was temporarily based in Tunis. Previously, she was an advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and worked with two ministers—José Manuel García-Margallo and Alfonso Dastis—from 2014 to 2017.
International projects
From 2007 to 2012, Aparisi worked at Spain’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, focusing on international security and cooperation issues. Her experience also includes positions in the Economic Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the minister’s office during the government of Miguel Ángel Moratinos.
In August 2021, José Pascual Marco was appointed as Spain’s ambassador to London. Shortly after, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, and the European Commission reached a political agreement on new terms of cooperation following Brexit. In particular, discussions include the potential removal of border controls and dismantling of the barrier at the Gibraltar border by 2026.
Trust and expectations
Government sources note that Aparisi has enjoyed the full confidence of Pedro Sánchez since his first days as prime minister. She is known not only for her diligence but also for her systematic approach, which has enabled her to steadily advance in her career. In the near future, she will be responsible for developing relations with London during a period of change and new challenges.
Aparisi’s appointment as ambassador to the United Kingdom is seen as a strategic move aimed at strengthening Spain’s position on the international stage and ensuring effective cooperation with the British authorities amid Europe’s evolving political landscape.
