EU Ambassador to El Salvador, Duccio Bandini, affirmed that his role is not to change the relationship with the country but to protect, strengthen, and give it greater momentum, while recognizing El Salvador’s determination to position itself internationally and pursue accelerated development. In an interview with Diario El Salvador, he described the relationship between the European Union and El Salvador as solid, mature, and strategically well directed.
“The relationship between the European Union and El Salvador is solid, mature, with a good strategic direction. It is not my role to change it, but rather to care for it, strengthen it, and perhaps give it greater dynamism,” said Bandini, who began his diplomatic mission in September. He explained that his working style is based on open dialogue, active listening, and cooperation with concrete results that benefit both sides.
The ambassador also highlighted what has most impressed him about the country: its determination to leave behind decades of hardship and focus on international positioning and accelerated growth. He stated that El Salvador has “an incredible capacity to mobilize toward new opportunities,” and emphasized that the European Union can support this vision through technical cooperation, dialogue, and sustainable development partnerships.
Looking ahead, Bandini said the EU aims to deepen cooperation by 2026 in key areas such as innovation, digitalization, education, and green transformation, while expanding investments in jobs, infrastructure, and opportunities for young people. He also underscored the importance of academic and cultural exchanges through the Erasmus Plus program. “2026 will be important to see how close we are to our objective of continuing to be a reliable partner for El Salvador and present in all the issues that matter to Salvadorans,” he concluded.