Directorate-General for External Relations (European Commission)
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Charlemagne building, RELEX HQ |
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| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1958 |
| Dissolved | 1 December 2011 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Type | Department |
| Headquarters |
Charlemagne building Brussels, Belgium 50°50′37.14″N 4°22′49.12″E / 50.8436500°N 4.3803111°E |
| Department executives |
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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, headed by Catherine Ashton (the High Representative).
"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).
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).
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