Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (French: Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères [ministɛʁ də løʁɔp e dez‿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 for 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. 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) Minister for Foreign Affairs (1718–1791) Ministers of Foreign Affairs (1791–2007) Consulate and First Empire First Restoration and the Hundred Days Second Restoration July Monarchy Second Republic Second Empire Third Republic Vichy Regime Free French Commissioners Fourth Republic Fifth Republic Ministers of Foreign and European Affairs (2007–2012) Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Development (2012–2017) Ministers of Europe and Foreign Affairs (2017–present) See also History of French foreign relations to 1981 Foreign relations of France References Further reading Feske, Victor H. "The Road To Suez: The British Foreign Office and the Quai D’Orsay, 1951–1957" in The Diplomats, 1939–1979 (2019) pp. 167–200; online External links 140 Ministries of Foreign Affairs (1589–2000) on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (archived) Official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Official treaty database of France (archived) Dictionnaire historique des institutions, mœurs et coutumes de la France, Adolphe Chéruel, L. Hachette et cie, 1855 "Ministries 1700–1870" at Rulers.org