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The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (French: Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères[ministɛʁdəløʁɔpedez‿afɛʁ(z‿)etʁɑ̃ʒɛʁ], MEAE) is the ministry of the Government of France that handles France's foreign relations. Since 1855, its headquarters have been located at 37 Quai d'Orsay, close to the National Assembly. The term Quai d'Orsay is often used as a metonym for the ministry. Its cabinet minister, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs (French: Ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères) is responsible for the foreign relations of France. The current officeholder, vacant, since 14 October 2025. For a brief period from 1984 to 1986, the office was titled Minister for External Relations.
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Agency overview
Formed
1547
Jurisdiction
Government of France
Headquarters
Hôtel du ministre des Affaires étrangères, 37 Quai d'Orsay, Paris 7e
Agency executive
Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs
Website
diplomatie.gouv.fr
In 1547, royal secretaries became specialised, writing correspondence to foreign governments and negotiating peace treaties. The four French secretaries of state where foreign relations were divided by region, in 1589, became centralised with one becoming first secretary responsible for international relations. The Ancien Régime position of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs became Foreign Minister around 1723; it was renamed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1791 in the aftermath of early stages of the French Revolution. All ministerial positions were abolished in 1794 by the National Convention and reestablished with the Directory.
Central administration
There are multiple services under its authority, along with that of some other ministers. Under the authority of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, that of Cooperation and European Affairs, and that of Foreign and European Affairs, there are numerous services directly related to the ministers. Here is a list of those services.
The ministers' cabinet
The office of cabinets, which gathers a personnel in charge of the administrative and logistics aspects of the three ministers' cabinets
The budget control service (CBCM)
General inspection of foreign affairs (IGAE)
The prospective office (DP)
The Protocole, upon which the President's protocol cell relies
The Crisis management Department (CDC)
Secretaries of State (1547–1723)
Name
from
to
Guillaume Bochetel, seigneur de Sussy
1547
1558
Côme Clausse, seigneur de Marchaumont
1547
1559
Claude de l’Aubespine
1 April 1547
1567
Jean du Thiers, seigneur de Beauregard
1547
1559
Jacques Bourdin, seigneur de Villeines
1558
1567
Florimond II Robertet, seigneur de Fresnes
1558
1567
Florimond III Robertet d'Alluye
1559
1569
Simon Fizes, baron de Sauves
22 October 1567
27 November 1579
Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy
28 October 1567
1588
Pierre Brûlart, seigneur de Genlis
8 June 1569
1588
Claude Pinart, seigneur de Comblisy and Crambailles
1570
1588
Louis de Revol
1 January 1589
17 September 1594
Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy
30 December 1594
9 August 1616
Armand Jean du Plessis, duc de Richelieu, Bishop of Luçon
30 November 1616
24 April 1617
Pierre Brulart, vicomte de Puysieux
24 April 1617
11 March 1626
Raymond Phelypeaux, seigneur d'Herbault
11 March 1626
2 May 1629
Claude Bouthillier
2 May 1629
18 March 1632
Léon Bouthillier, comte de Chavigny
18 March 1632
23 June 1643
Henri-Auguste de Loménie, comte de Brienne
23 June 1643
3 April 1663
Hugues de Lionne
3 April 1663
1 September 1671
Simon Arnauld, marquis de Pomponne
1 September 1671
18 November 1679
Charles Colbert, marquis de Croissy
12 February 1680
28 July 1696
Jean-Baptiste Colbert, marquis de Torcy
28 July 1696
22 September 1715
Nicolas du Blé, marquis d'Huxelles
23 September 1715
1 September 1718
Minister for Foreign Affairs (1718–1791)
Name
from
to
Guillaume Dubois
24 September 1718
10 August 1723
Charles Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau, comte de Morville
16 August 1723
19 August 1727
Germain Louis Chauvelin
23 August 1727
20 February 1737
Jean-Jacques Amelot de Chaillou
22 February 1737
26 April 1744
Adrien Maurice, duc de Noailles
26 April 1744
19 November 1744
René de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d'Argenson
19 November 1744
10 January 1747
Louis Philogène Brûlart, vicomte de Puisieulx
27 January 1747
9 September 1751
François Dominique de Barberie de Saint-Contest
11 September 1751
24 July 1754
Antoine Louis Rouillé
24 July 1754
28 June 1757
François Joachim de Pierre de Bernis
28 June 1757
9 October 1758
Étienne François, duc de Choiseul
3 December 1758
13 October 1761
César Gabriel de Choiseul-Chevigny, duc de Praslin
13 October 1761
10 April 1766
Étienne François, duc de Choiseul
10 April 1766
24 December 1770
Louis Phélypeaux, duc de La Vrillère
24 December 1770
6 June 1771
Emmanuel Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon
Ministers of Foreign and European Affairs (2007–2012)
Name
from
to
Bernard Kouchner
16 May 2007
14 November 2010
Michèle Alliot-Marie
14 November 2010
27 February 2011
Alain Juppé
27 February 2011
15 May 2012
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Development (2012–2017)
Name
from
to
Laurent Fabius
16 May 2012
11 February 2016
Jean-Marc Ayrault
11 February 2016
10 May 2017
Ministers of Europe and Foreign Affairs (2017–present)
Name
from
to
Jean-Yves Le Drian
17 May 2017
20 May 2022
Catherine Colonna
20 May 2022
11 January 2024
Stéphane Séjourné
11 January 2024
21 September 2024
Jean-Noël Barrot
21 September 2024
Present
See also
History of French foreign relations to 1981
Foreign relations of France
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