The European Commissioner for External Relations was a member of the European Commission with responsibility over the Commissions external representation in the world and the European Union's (EU) Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The responsibility was shared though between other Commission posts (see below) and the High Representative.
The first Commissioner to hold the post was Jean Rey in 1958, who later became Commission President. The last Commissioner was Benita Ferrero-Waldner who served from 2004 to 2009 in the first Barroso Commission.
As a result of the Treaty of Lisbon, on 1 December 2009, merged the positions of Commissioner and High Representative into a composite entity called the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The post has been under various names (External Relations/External Affairs) and often combined with Trade or other portfolios. In the Barroso I Commission it was combined with the European Neighbourhood Policy portfolio, hence its name under that administration. Ferrero-Waldner was also the last Commissioner for External Relations as the post was taken over by the High Representative Catherine Ashton from 1 December 2009.[1]
| Commissioner | State | National party | Commission | Term start | Term end | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Liberal Reformist Party | Hallstein Commission I | 1958 | 1962 | |||
| Hallstein Commission II | 1962 | 1967 | |||||
| Italy | Christian Democracy | Rey Commission | 1967 | 1970 | |||
| France | Union for French Democracy | Malfatti Commission | 1970 | 1972 | |||
| Mansholt Commission | 1972 | 1973 | |||||
| United Kingdom | Conservative Party | Ortoli Commission | 1973 | 1977 | |||
| West Germany | Social Democratic Party | Jenkins Commission | 1977 | 1981 | |||
| Thorn Commission | 1981 | 1985 | |||||
| Belgium | Flemish Liberals and Democrats | Delors Commission I | 1985 | 1989 | |||
| Netherlands | Christian Democratic Appeal | Delors Commission II | 1989 | 1993 | |||
| Netherlands | Christian Democratic Appeal | Delors Commission III | 1993 | 1995 | |||
| United Kingdom | Conservative Party | Santer Commission | 1995 | 1999 | |||
| United Kingdom | Conservative Party | Prodi Commission | 1999 | 2004 | |||
| Austria | Austrian People's Party | Barroso Commission I | 2004 | 2009 | |||
As a result of the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, the Commissioner position was merged with that of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy to become the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. However Ferrero-Waldner maintained control over the European Neighbourhood Policy and EuropeAid Co-operation Office (which are not part of the new High Representative's mandate).[2]
Since the establishment of the High Representative, there are now only the following Commissioners dealing with international affairs;
The external relations policy of the Barroso Commission is based on three key basic propositions on the EU's role in the world. The EU is a global player; it pursues a specific foreign policy philosophy which one could term "effective multilateralism"; and, thanks to its specific nature, the EU disposes of a wide range of foreign policy instruments which are particularly suited to respond to today's challenges. In his first Commission, President Barroso established a Group of Commissioners, chaired by him, and in charge of six external relations services. Prior to its abolition, there were four external relations posts;