European Union Minister for Foreign Affairs

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The European Union Minister of Foreign Affairs was a new EU political post envisaged under the proposed EU Constitutional treaty. The post would represent the European Union and its Common Foreign and Security Policy in the world.

The position would merge the two existing offices of;

• High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, introduced by the Treaty of Amsterdam, who, together with the national Foreign Minister holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, represents the council of Foreign Ministers of the Union. This office is currently held by Javier Solana who was expected to become the first Union Foreign Minister.
• European Commissioner for External Relations, responsible for the representation of the European Commission in foreign policy affairs. - meaning the Minister would be a member of the Commission This office is currently held by Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

The Minister would also be a Vice-President in the Commission and chair the Council of Ministers in its Foreign Affairs configuration. Although the Minister has powers to make proposals he/she can only represent the Union in matters where there is an agreed policy between all member-states.

See Also: Foreign relations of the European Union

See Also: Text of the European Constitution

v • d • e Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
Changes & Codification	Qualified majority voting · Institutions · Charter of Fundamental Rights · Democratic deficit · Codecision procedure
New Elements	Union Minister for Foreign Affairs · European Public Prosecutor
Ratification & Change	Signatories · Ratification · Proposed amendments
Major Actors	Tony Blair · Jacques Chirac · Valéry Giscard d'Estaing · Angela Merkel · Gerhard Schröder
Background	History · European Convention · Draft Treaty · Intergovernmental Conference · Laeken European Council · Previous Treaties