This　paper　investigates　the　aggregation　of　multiple　fuzzy　preference　relations　into　a　collective　fuzzy　preference　relation　in　fuzzy　group　decision　analysis　and　proposes　an　optimization　based　aggregation　approach　to　assess　the　relative　importance　weights　of　the　multiple　fuzzy　preference　relations.　The　proposed　approach　that　is　analytical　in　nature　assesses　the　weights　by　minimizing　the　sum　of　squared　distances　between　any　two　weighted　fuzzy　preference　relations.　Relevant　theorems　are　offered　in　support　of　the　proposed　approach.　Multiplicative　preference　relations　are　also　incorporated　into　the　approach　using　an　appropriate　transformation　technique.　An　eigenvector　method　is　introduced　to　derive　the　priorities　from　the　collective　fuzzy　preference　relation.　The　proposed　aggregation　approach　is　tested　using　two　numerical　examples.　A　third　example　involving　broadband　internet　service　selection　is　offered　to　illustrate　that　the　proposed　aggregation　approach　provides　a　simple,　effective　and　practical　way　of　aggregating　multiple　fuzzy　preference　relations　in　real-life　situations.　©　2006　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.