July/August 2014

DID YOU KNOW?

The EU goes to great lengths to ensure good relations with non-EU countries to ensure the realisation and success of key objectives. For more information on EU International Affairs.

EDC News: EU and International Relations

The EU constantly strives to improve justice, migration, mobility and security for its citizens, therefore, it needs to maintain good relations with non-EU countries. Partnership with non-EU countries also strengthens the rule of law, law-enforcement reform and promotes respect for human rights and international obligations. Areas that are addressed by EU external policies and collaboration with non-EU countries are: Immigration; Common European Asylum System; Schengen, Borders & Visas; Internal security; Organised crime & Human trafficking; Crisis & Terrorism; Police cooperation; International affairs.

The EU uses a number of different instruments to implement the external dimension of its policies in the area of justice, freedom and security. The following are a selection of these instruments:

• Programmes/ Frameworks/Services:

  • European External Action Service (EEAS)

  • External Cooperation Programmes

  • Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM)

  • Development and Developing countries – EUROPEAID

  • Humanitarian aid (Humanitarian Aid department - Echo)

  • International trade and trade agreements (External trade)

• Key Legislation

  • Summaries of EU legislation on foreign affairs and security policy

  • External relations

  • Humanitarian aid

  • External trade

  • Development and cooperation

  • Human rights and democracy

  • Fight against organised crime

  • Treaty on European Union - Articles 21-46 (external action and common foreign & security policy)

  • Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - Articles 205-222 (common commercial policy)

• Policies and key documents

  • Enlargement – This is the process where countries join the EU (conditions for membership), for instance, prospective countries need to agree to apply the EU acquis (entire body of EU law already in place).

  • European Neighbourhood Policy

  • Eastern Partnership

  • United States of America

    • EU-USA Treaties

    • EU and the United States strategic relationship has been framed by the New Transatlantic Agenda since 1995.

    • The Washington Statement of October 2009 sets out a joint EU-US commitment for cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs area until 2014.

  • Russia

    • EU-Russia Treaties

    • EU-Russia cooperation addresses the implementation of a Road Map for the Common Space of Freedom, Security and Justice, adopted at the EU-Russia Summit in May 2005.

  • Canada

    • EU-Canada Treaties

  • EU-China Treaties

  • EU-India Treaties

For more information:

• Commission – Development and Cooperation

• High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

• Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation

• Directorate-General for Enlargement

• Directorate-General for Trade

• Foreign Policy Instruments Service