The Ambassador [fr]

Fatène Benhabylès-Foeth

Picture credit: Judith Litvine

Ms. Fatène Benhabylès-Foeth took up her post as Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 1 September 2023.

As a career diplomat, Ms. Benhabylès-Foeth was previously Minister-Counsellor at the French Embassy in Tunis (2020-2023), after working in the Middle East and North Africa Department (2016-2020) and in the Spokesperson Departement (2014-2016) of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. In the MENA region, she was also Cultural Attaché at the General Consulate of France in Jerusalem (2000-2005).

Moreover, she has held a number of positions in the European field: In Paris as the Head of the European Development Issues Office (2007-2010), in Brussels, at France’s Permanent Representation to the European Union (2010-2013) and then, in the European Neighbourhood Policy Division of the European External Action Service (2013-2014).

At the start of her career, Ms. Benhabylès-Foeth carried out a humanitarian mission in the former Yugoslavia (1995-1996) before supporting the development of decentralised cooperation projects in the Mediterranean (1996-2000).

Ms. Fatène Benhabylès-Foeth graduated from the College of Europe in Bruges in 1995, and also holds the European Master’s degree in Governance and Administration (Paris-Berlin, "Pont de l’Europe" promotion). She is also a graduate of SKEMA Business School (Nice-Sophia Antipolis) and of the University of Paris IX-Dauphine, where she obtained a Master’s degree in political science.

Ms. Benhabylès-Foeth is a Knight of the National Order of Merit. She is married and has two children.