Borrell comes to the role High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy with a wealth of political experience both at national and European level. Borrell served for almost 20 years in Spain’s Congress of Deputies and served in the government of Felipe González in various roles. He was General Secretary for the Budget and Public Spending (1982–1984), Secretary of State for Finance (1984–1991) and Minister of Public Works and Transport (1991–1996). Borrell was elected MEP and President of the European Parliament in 2004. From 2007-2009 Borrell was a member of the Committee on Development after which he stepped back from frontline politics. With his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in 2018, Borrell made a return to Spanish politics, before being nominated for the role of High Representative by EU leaders at the June-July European Council. Borrell speaks Spanish, Catalan, Italian, French and English.