H.E. Mr Francisco Fontan Pardo is the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to ASEAN since September 2015. Mr Fontan is the first dedicated EU Ambassador to ASEAN and represents the EU in all relevant negotiations, coordinates with EU Member States and enhances public diplomacy efforts in relation to EU support for ASEAN integration. Mr Fontan became an EU official in 1996. For the last 20 years, Mr Fontan has served at the European Commission (the executive arm of the EU) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) (the EU’s diplomatic service), covering political and cooperation activities of the EU's external relations in Africa, Asia and America. Mr Fontan has a degree in Law from the Universidad Complutense, Spain. While pursuing his studies, he was also awarded a two-year Erasmus scholarship in France and Austria.