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High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

The High Representative (HR):

  • shapes and conducts the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP), including its common security and defence policy,
  • presides over the Foreign Affairs Council,
  • heads the European Defence Agency, and
  • is one of the vice-presidents of the European Commission.

The HR ensures the consistency of the EU’s external action. They are in charge, within the Commission, of responsibilities incumbent to their mission in external relations and of coordinating other aspects of the EU’s external action.

The HR is appointed by the European Council acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the President of the Commission for a mandate of 5 years.

In carrying out their mission, the HR is supported by the European External Action Service (EEAS) — the EU’s diplomatic service. The EEAS works in cooperation with EU countries’ diplomatic services. It comprises officials and agents from the EU as well as personnel seconded from national diplomatic services.

The Political and Security Committee (PSC), comprising ambassadors from the 27 EU countries, also acts under the responsibility of the HR. It monitors the international situation in the areas covered by the CFSP and plays a key role in defining and following up on the EU’s response to a crisis.

The post of HR was originally created in 1997 under the Amsterdam Treaty and the first holder of the post was Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force in December 2009, maintained the function of the HR, albeit with a broader treaty-based mandate, including the presidency of the Foreign Affairs Council and the role of vice-president of the Commission.

The current HR is Josep Borrell Fontelles, who was appointed for a 5-year period from December 2019. He succeeds Federica Mogherini (2014-2019).

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