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The Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy is a member of the European Commission with responsibility over the Commissions external representation in the world and the European Union's Neighbourhood Policy. The responsibility is shared though between other posts (see below). It is often more commonly known simply the Commissioner for the External Relations/Affairs as it has been previously known.

The current Commissioner is Benita Ferrero-Waldner (EPP-ED) who is serving from 2004 to 2009 in the Barroso Commission. Her home state is Austria where she previously served as Foreign Minister.

The Commissioner's Cabinet

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Foreign relations of the European Union

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Main article: Foreign relations of the European Union

The external relations policy of the Barroso Commission is based on three key basic propositions on the EU’s role in the emerging world order. 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 Union disposes of a wide range of foreign policy instruments which are particularly suited to respond to today's challenges. The President has established a Group of Commissioners, chaired by him, and in charge of six external relations services.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner is deputy chair of the Group of External Relations Commissioners, and responsible for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy. She is responsible for two Commission Directorate-Generals: External Relations (Relex) and the EuropeAid Co-operation Office (Aidco).

Peter Mandelson is responsible for External Trade. The Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission is in charge of implementing the external trade policy of the European Union. International trade will be at the forefront of international relations over the coming years.

Louis Michel is responsible for Humanitarian Aid and Development Policy. A closely related goal is enhancing the effectiveness of the Union's development assistance. He is responsible for two Directorate-Generals: the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and Development.

Olli Rehn is responsible for Enlargement. This has been the key tool in enhancing the European model and meeting the objectives of foreign and security policy. The Enlargement Directorate General manages the process under his responsibility.

The post has been under various names (Relations/Affairs) and often combined with Trade or other portfolios. In the Barroso Commission it has been combined with the European Neighbourhood Policy portfolio, hence its current name.

• Jean Rey (of Belgium) - Hallstein Commission I (1958-1962)
• Jean Rey (of Belgium) - Hallstein Commission II (1962-1967)
• Edoardo Martino (of Italy) - Rey Commission (1967-1970)
• Jean-François Deniau (of France) - Malfatti Commission (1970-1972)
• Jean-François Deniau (of France) - Mansholt Commission (1972-1973)
• Christopher Soames (of the United Kingdom) - Ortoli Commission (1973-1977)
• Wilhelm Haferkamp (of West Germany) - Jenkins Commission (1977-1981)
• Wilhelm Haferkamp (of West Germany) - Thorn Commission (1981-1985)
• Willy De Clercq (of Belgium) - Delors Commission I (1985-1989)
• Frans Andriessen (of the Netherlands) - Delors Commission II (1989-1993)
• Hans van den Broek (of the Netherlands) - Delors Commission III 1993-1995)
• Leon Brittan (of the United Kingdom) - Santer Commission (1995-1999)
• Leon Brittan (of the United Kingdom) - Marín Commission (1999)
• Chris Patten (of the United Kingdom) - Prodi Commission (1999-2004)
• Benita Ferrero-Waldner (of Austria) - Barroso Commission (2004-2009)

The mandate of the Barroso Commission ends in 2009, though the Commission may resign before then.

As the European Union becomes a more powerful body, and hence a more powerful voice in the world, the importance of its representation has grown. Under the proposed European Constitution this post would have been merged with that of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy to become the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs and also a Commission vice-president.

• Directorate-General for External Relations
• Common Foreign and Security Policy
• Javier Solana
• Foreign relations of the European Union

• Commissioner's website ec.europa.eu
• External Relations' website ec.europa.eu
• EU in the world website ec.europa.eu
• ENP website ec.europa.eu
• News on daylife daylife.com