Dutch Official Heads Common Market Trade Policy
The Common Market chose Frans Andriessen, a former Dutch finance minister, on Friday as its chief of foreign and trade policy, the official who deals with other countries.
Andriessen now has the agricultural portfolio. He succeeds Willy De Clercq, who guided the 12-nation European Economic Community through sometimes stormy trade relations with Washington.
The appointment, for a two-year term beginning Jan. 6, was one of 17 announced Friday to the European Commission, the EEC executive branch.
Jacques Delors, commission president, remains in charge of monetary affairs, an increasingly important job as member nations work toward a common monetary policy and decide whether they need a European central bank.
Another appointment was of Martin Bangemann, former West German economics minister, to be in charge of the internal market, with the goal of creating a single marketplace free of barriers by the end of 1992.
Ray MacSharry of Ireland replaces Andriessen as chief of agricultural affairs, an area including subsidy policy that has provoked sharp protest by the United States.
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