The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (French: Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères) 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, Jean-Yves Le Drian, was appointed in 2017.
In 1547, secretaries to the King 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] and was renamed "Minister of Foreign Affairs" in 1791 after the French Revolution. All ministerial positions were abolished in 1794 by the National Convention and re-established with the Directory.
For a brief period in the 1980s, the office was retitled Minister for External Relations. As of 17 May 2017, it is designated as the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and led by Jean-Yves Le Drian, assisted by two secretaries of state, currently Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne and Amélie de Montchalin.
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 protocole cell relies on