Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (French: Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères, 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, Catherine Colonna, was appointed in 2022.

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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	Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Website	diplomatie.gouv.fr

Politics of France
Constitutions Fifth Republic Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Executive President (list) Emmanuel Macron (LREM) Prime Minister (list) Élisabeth Borne (LREM) Government Borne
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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;[1] 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.

For a brief period in the 1980s, the office was retitled Minister for External Relations. As of 2023, it is designated as Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs and occupied by Catherine Colonna, who is assisted by two Secretaries of State, currently Chrysoula Zacharopoulou and Laurence Boone.