Directorate-General for External Relations

50°50′37.14″N 4°22′49.12″E / 50.8436500°N 4.3803111°E / 50.8436500; 4.3803111Department executives

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, External Relations Commissioner
David O'Sullivan, Director General

The Directorate-General for the External Relations (DG RELEX, DG E VIII) was a Directorate-General of the European Commission, responsible for the external policy. The DG was merged into the European External Action Service in 2010, then headed by High Representative Catherine Ashton.

Role

"The Directorate-General for External Relations contributed to the formulation by the Commissioner for External Relations, together with her colleagues of an effective and coherent external relations policy for the European Union, so as to enable the EU to assert its identity on the international scene." To this end DG RELEX worked closely with other Directorates-General, notably DG Development, DG Enlargement, DG Trade, EuropeAid Co-Operation Office and European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO).^[1]

The DG operated the 120 Delegations and Offices around the world. In October 2010 David O'Sullivan was made the last Director General of RELEX (as he then became the first the chief operating officer of the EEAS) and the Deputy Director General was Karel Kovanda (2008). Prior to O'Sullivan taking over, the director-general was Eneko Landaburu (2003–2009), then João Vale de Almeida (2009–2010).

Merger

Under the Lisbon Treaty, the European External Action Service (EEAS) took over RELEX's functions, merging them with its counterparts in the Council of the European Union as of 1 December 2010. Under the second Barroso Commission, the elements of RELEX relating to international climate change negotiations were transferred to the new Climate Action DG.^[2] This was in preparation for the merger as not all foreign policy DGs were to be merged but elements of a number. A minor turf war erupted as the Commission attempted to retain control of certain policy areas in the face of EEAS' consolidation. Those areas of RELEX that the commission retains but needs close cooperation with the EEAS were established in a new DG, the Foreign Policy Instruments Service.

References

^ "EUROPA - European Commission - DG External Relations : Mission". Archived from the original on 2006-06-19. Retrieved 2006-06-14.
^ "Press corner". European Commission - European Commission.

Administration of the European Commission

Table of European Commission Directorates-General and Services
DG = Directorate-General

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Foreign relations of the European Union

Bilateral relations

See also: Economic relationships with third countries
Africa	Algeria Cape Verde Egypt Libya Morocco South Africa Sudan Tunisia
Americas	Argentina trade Brazil Canada Cuba Greenland Mexico Peru United States Uruguay
Asia	Bahrain Bangladesh China India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Lebanon Malaysia Nepal North Korea Pakistan Palestine† Philippines South Korea Syria Taiwan Vietnam Yemen
Europe	Albania Andorra Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Faroe Islands Georgia Accession negotiations Iceland Kosovo† Liechtenstein Moldova Accession negotiations Monaco Montenegro North Macedonia Northern Cyprus† Norway Russia San Marino Serbia Sovereign Military Order of Malta Switzerland Turkey Accession negotiations Ukraine Accession negotiations United Kingdom Vatican City
Oceania	Australia Micronesia New Zealand Papua New Guinea
Former	Yugoslavia
General	Overseas territories of member states European microstates Largest trading partners Association Agreements Free trade agreements European Union Sanctions
†= Disputed state, may not be recognised as an independent state by some or all European Union members.

Multilateral relations and initiatives

Organisations

Initiatives

Administration and policies

Foreign and Security Policy	Global Strategy Neighbourhood Policy Enlargement Security and Defence Policy
Administration	Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development External Action Service Foreign Affairs Council High Representative Josep Borrell Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Foreign Policy Instruments Service Diplomatic missions of the EU (ambassadors) / to the EU Special Representatives
Funding	Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance Global Europe

Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union

Leadership

Structure

External Action Service	Command structure on the civilian/military strategic and operational levels (Military Planning and Conduct Capability within the Military Staff, Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, Joint Support Coordination Cell) Intelligence and Situation Centre (Club de Berne) Crisis Management and Planning Directorate Security & Defence College
Agencies	Defence Agency Institute for Security Studies Satellite Centre
Council preparatory bodies	Committee of Permanent Representatives Political and Security Committee Politico-Military Group Military Committee Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management
European Commission bodies	Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space
Funding	Defence Fund