European Commissioner For External Relations - List of Commissioners

List of Commissioners

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 will also be the last Commissioner for External Relations as the post is to be taken over by the High Representative Catherine Ashton from 1 December 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).

Since the establishment of the High Representative, there are now only the following Commissioners dealing with international affairs;

• European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy
• European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response
• European Commissioner for Trade