TheMinistry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (French:Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères[ministɛʁdəløʁɔpedez‿afɛʁ(z‿)etʁɑ̃ʒɛʁ],MEAE) is theministry of theGovernment of France that handles France'sforeign relations. Since 1855, its headquarters have been located at 37Quai d'Orsay, close to theNational Assembly. The termQuai d'Orsay is often used as ametonym for the ministry. Its cabinet minister, theMinister of Europe and Foreign Affairs (French:Ministre de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères) is responsible for theforeign relations of France. The current officeholder, vacant, since 14 October 2025. For a brief period from 1984 to 1986, the office was titledMinister for External Relations.
In 1547, royal secretaries became specialised, writing correspondence to foreign governments and negotiating peace treaties. The four Frenchsecretaries of state where foreign relations were divided by region, in 1589, became centralised with one becoming first secretary responsible for international relations. TheAncien Régime position ofSecretary 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 theFrench Revolution. All ministerial positions were abolished in 1794 by theNational Convention and reestablished with theDirectory.
Foreign Affairs Ministry building on theQuai d'Orsay
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
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