Brussels, 24/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - In 1954, when the European Union was still the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Commission created its External Relations service setting up its first office in the United States. Chris Patten, External Relations Commissioner, last week celebrated its 50th anniversary, stressing that the Directorate General is today still the only instrument for making the EU known to the rest of the world.
The role of the 130 delegations established in third countries has evolved constantly over the years, a press release issued on this occasion notes. It points out that, for Romano Prodi, European Commission President, these delegations have become "indispensable instruments in the EU's expanding role on the international stage".
The Commission delegations exist in third countries in five international organisations (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation). Over 5,000 are employed in these delegations.