Ambassador Yaprak Balkan was born in Ankara on 15 September 1971.

She completed her undergraduate studies in International Relations at the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Middle East Technical University (1993). Ambassador Balkan also holds two Master’s degrees: one in International Politics from the Free University of Brussels (1999) and another from the College of Europe (2000).

She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish.

Positions held:

2026: Permanent Delegate of Türkiye to the EU, Ambassador

2024 – 2026: Directorate General for Bilateral Relations – Ambassador, Director General

2023 – 2024: Directorate General for Bilateral Political Affairs – Ambassador, Acting Director General, Member of the Foreign Policy Advisory Board

2019 – 2023: Embassy in Addis Ababa – Ambassador

2014 – 2019: Deputy Directorate General for European Union Affairs – Acting Deputy Director General / Minister Counsellor, Deputy Director General

2010 – 2014: Permanent Mission to the UN Office at Geneva – First Counsellor, Minister Counsellor, Deputy Chief of Mission

2008 – 2010: Department of EU Affairs II – Branch Director, Head of Department

2004 – 2008: Permanent Delegation to the EU – First Secretary, Counsellor

2002 – 2004: Department of EU Affairs I – Second Secretary, First Secretary

2000 – 2002: Embassy in Kyiv – Third Secretary, Second Secretary

1999 – 2000: Permanent Representation of Opandat – Third Secretary

1997 – 1999: Consulate General in Brussels – Attache, Vice Consul