Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
Portfolio in the Scottish Government
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Energy is a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet.[2] The minister supported the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs, a full member of the cabinet until its abolishment.[3] The current Minister is Stephen Gethins, who was appointed on May 20, 2026.
- Minister
(within parliament) - External Affairs Minister
(informal) - Scottish External Affairs Minister (outwith Scotland)
| Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Energy | |
|---|---|
| Scottish Gaelic: Ministear airson Gnothaichean na Pàrlamaid | |
| |
| Style |
|
| Member of | |
| Reports to | Scottish Parliament |
| Seat | Edinburgh |
| Appointer | First Minister |
| Inaugural holder | Linda Fabiani |
| Formation | May 2007 |
| Salary | £106,185 per annum (2024)[1] (including £72,196 MSP salary) |
| Website | www |
The post was created in September 2012. The role was modified in February 2020 with migration moving to another post, before being abolished in May 2024 by John Swinney. In May 2026, the post was re-established.
Overview
The specific responsibilities of the minister were:[3]
- International development
- Post-Brexit Relations
- Cross government co-ordination on the European Union
- Fair trade
- Scottish diaspora
History
In September 2012 the position of Minister for External Affairs and International Development was created; the name of the role changed a November 2014 reshuffle when Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister. It was changed again in May 2016, after the 2016 election, and again in June 2018. In May 2024, First Minister John Swinney abolished the role following the formation of his first government. John Swinney brought the office back in use in May 2026, following the formation of his second government as Minister for Europe, External Affairs, and Energy.
List of office holders
The incumbent Minister is Stephen Gethins, who has held the role since May 2026.
| Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Party | First Minister | |||||||||||||||
| Rhona Brankin |  |
19 May 1999 | 1 November 2000 | Scottish Labour Party | Donald Dewar | |||||||||||||||
| Deputy Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Party | First Minister | Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Party | First Minister | |||||||||
| Allan Wilson |  |
1 November 2000 | 8 March 2001 | Scottish Labour Party | Henry McLeish | Nicol Stephen |  |
1 November 2000 | 28 November 2001 | Scottish Liberal Democrats | Henry McLeish | |||||||||
| Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Allan Wilson | |
8 March 2001 | 28 November 2001 | Scottish Labour Party | Henry McLeish | |||||||||||||||
| Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elaine Murray | 28 November 2001 | 28 November 2002 | Labour Party | Jack McConnell | ||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Linda Fabiani |  |
17 May 2007 | 10 February 2009 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Russell | .jpg) |
10 February 2009 | 1 December 2009 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for Culture and External Affairs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fiona Hyslop | .jpg) |
1 December 2009 | 19 May 2011 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for External Affairs and International Development | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Humza Yousaf |  |
6 September 2012 | 21 November 2014 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for Europe and International Development | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Humza Yousaf | |
21 November 2014 | 18 May 2016 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for International Development and Europe | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alasdair Allan |  |
18 May 2016 | 27 June 2018 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ben Macpherson |  |
27 June 2018[4] | 17 February 2020 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for Europe and International Development | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jenny Gilruth |  |
17 February 2020 | 24 January 2022 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Neil Gray | .jpg) |
24 January 2022 | 29 March 2023 | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | |||||||||||||||
| Christina McKelvie | .jpg) |
29 March 2023 | 8 February 2024 | Scottish National Party | Humza Yousaf | |||||||||||||||
| Kaukab Stewart |  |
12 February 2024 | 8 May 2024 | Scottish National Party | Humza Yousaf | |||||||||||||||
| Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Energy | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Gethins | .jpg) |
21 May 2026 | Incumbent | Scottish National Party | John Swinney | |||||||||||||||
