Summaries of EU legislation
External relations

The work of the European Union (EU) in the area of external relations includes the negotiation of trade agreements, and cooperation on energy, health, climate and environmental issues, often in the context of international organisations such as the United Nations. It also operates European Neighbourhood Policy programmes in relation to its closest international neighbours.
Under the Lisbon Treaty, which came into force in 2009, there was a reorganisation of the EU's external relations work with the creation of the European External Action Services (EEAS), the European Union's diplomatic arm, and the post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
- Foreign and security policy — key institutional actors
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Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
- Legal instruments & financing
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Conflict prevention, peace building, mediation & stabilisation
- Agreement between the EU and Somalia on the EU mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia)
- Mali and the Sahel: towards achieving stabilisation of the region
- EU training mission Mali (EUTM Mali)
- EU Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya)
- EU Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine)
- Crisis management — Framework for participation agreements
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Sanctions policy
- EU Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya
- Restrictive measures to combat terrorism
- Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Tunisia
- Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Sudan
- Restrictive measures against Zimbabwe
- Restrictive measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
- Restrictive measures against Belarus
- Restrictive measures against ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaeda
- Restrictive measures against Iran
- General Framework for EU Sanctions
- Imposition of EU sanctions to address the situation in Venezuela
- EU restrictive measures in view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- EU restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons
- EU Restrictive measures against Syria
- EU restrictive measures against North Korea
- EU restrictive measures against cyber-attacks
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Non-proliferation and disarmament
- Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction
- Small arms and light weapons: combating their accumulation
- Small arms and light weapons
- Towards more responsible arms transfers: the EU and the Arms Trade Treaty
- Weapons of mass destruction: combating proliferation
- Nuclear weapons - strengthened monitoring and verification
- Illicit weapons and ammunition - global reporting mechanism
- EU training mission Mali (EUTM Mali)
- Crisis management — Framework for participation agreements
- Counter-terrorism
- EU relations with international organisations and bodies
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The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
- European Defence Policy
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CSDP operations (military and civilian)
- A European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (European Union Naval Force Mediterranean operation IRINI)
- The EU’s Military Planning and Conduct Capability
- EU training mission Mali (EUTM Mali)
- EU mission in Kosovo — upholding the rule of law
- EU Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine)
- Agencies under Common Security and Defence Policy
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Assistance and other instruments/mechanisms
- European Development Fund (EDF)
- Peace Facility for Africa
- Putting the EU's solidarity clause into practice
- Macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
- Macro-financial assistance to enlargement and neighbourhood partners in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic
- IPA III: the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (2021–2027)
- Financial cooperation with non-EU countries on nuclear safety 2021-2027
- External EU action to address the refugee crisis
- Global Europe — the EU Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument
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Agreements with non-EU countries
- North & West Africa
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Central and Southern Africa & Indian Ocean
- ACP countries — economic partnership agreements and export arrangements
- Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) with South Africa
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and South Africa
- Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Central Africa Party
- EU cooperation with the ACP countries: 11th European Development Fund
- Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community countries
- Cotonou Agreement
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Latin America & the Caribbean
- Association Agreement between the EU and Central America
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Mexico
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Chile
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Brazil
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Argentina
- Political dialogue and cooperation agreement with Cuba
- Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and Mercosur
- EU trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador
- EU-Latin American and the Caribbean International Foundation
- EU-Chile agreement on trade in organic products
- EU-Chile Association Agreement
- EU cooperation with the ACP countries: 11th European Development Fund
- EU-Central America political dialogue and cooperation agreement
- EEC-Andean Community Cooperation Agreement
- Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the CARIFORUM states
- Bilateral framework agreements for cooperation with the Mercosur countries
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North America
- Agreement between the European Union and the United States on the transfer of financial messaging data
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and the United States
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Canada
- EU-US Agreement on Insurance and Reinsurance
- EU-US agreement on airline passenger name record data
- EU–United States of America mutual recognition agreement (MRA)
- EU-US aviation agreements
- EU-US agreement on personal data protection
- EU–Canada mutual recognition agreement (MRA)
- Economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union
- Container security: EU–US agreements
- Agreements with Canada on customs matters
- Agreement with the United States on mutual legal assistance
- Agreement with the United States on extradition
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Western Europe (non-EU)
- Agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the greenhouse gas emissions trading system (ETS)
- Surrender procedure between EU Member States and Iceland and Norway
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Euratom and Norway
- Euratom-UK agreement on cooperation on the safe and peaceful uses of nuclear energy
- EU–Switzerland mutual recognition agreement (MRA)
- EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement
- EU–Switzerland agreement on the simplification of inspections and formalities in respect of the carriage of goods and on customs security measures
- EU-Iceland agreement on the protection of geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs
- EU and Iceland: clarification of certain rules relating to trade (safeguard measures)
- Agreement on the European Economic Area
- Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the EU and Norway on applying similar rules of origin
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Eastern Europe (non-EU)
- Association Agreement with Georgia
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Montenegro
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania
- Status Agreement between the European Union and Serbia on actions carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Serbia
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with North Macedonia
- Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCAs): Russia, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia
- Participation of Kosovo in EU programmes
- Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories involved with the EU’s stabilisation and association process
- EU–Russia partnership and cooperation agreement
- Association Agreement with Ukraine
- Association Agreement with Moldova
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Western Asia
- Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Yemen
- Scientific and technological cooperation with Jordan
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Egypt
- Partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Iraq
- Partnership Agreement with Armenia
- EU strategy for Syria
- EU-Israel mutual recognition agreement (MRA)
- EU customs union with Turkey
- Cooperation Agreement between the EEC and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
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Southern Asia
- Agreement with Bangladesh on partnership and development
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and India
- Partnerships with countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
- Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Vietnam
- EU-India customs agreement
- EU-India agreement on research and development cooperation in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
- EU-Afghanistan: Cooperation agreement on partnership and development
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Eastern & South-eastern Asia
- Agreement with the Republic of Korea
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and South Korea
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Japan
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and China
- Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Philippines
- Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mongolia
- ITER: Euratom/Japan agreement on nuclear fusion
- Investment Protection Agreement between the EU and Vietnam
- Investment Protection Agreement between the EU and Singapore
- Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore
- Framework Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea
- EU-Republic of Korea free trade agreement
- EU relations with China
- EU–Japan mutual legal assistance
- EU-Japan agreement on civil aviation safety
- EU-Philippines Agreement on Air Services
- EU-Japan mutual recognition agreement (MRA)
- EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement
- EU-China agreement on civil aviation safety
- EU-China agreement on protection of geographical indications
- Economic partnership agreement between the EU and Japan
- Customs Agreement with Japan
- Agreement with China on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters
- Oceania
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Sectoral agreements
- Agreements — Free movement of persons
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Agreements — Justice & security
- Agreement between the European Union and the United States on the transfer of financial messaging data
- EU-US agreement on personal data protection
- EU–Japan mutual legal assistance
- Agreements on the security of classified information
- Agreement with the United States on mutual legal assistance
- Agreement with the United States on extradition
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Agreements — Trade
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EU and the WTO
- Adapting EU trade defence measures following a WTO ruling
- WTO: agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property
- WTO: agreement on trade in services
- WTO: agreement on trade in goods
- WTO: agreement on intellectual property rights relating to trade and pharmaceutical patents
- WTO agreement
- EU rights to apply and enforce international trade rules
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Countries and regions
- ACP countries — economic partnership agreements and export arrangements
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Montenegro
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania
- Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) with South Africa
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia
- Stabilisation and Association Agreement with North Macedonia
- Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCAs): Russia, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia
- Partnership Agreement with Armenia
- Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Philippines
- Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mongolia
- Pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin
- Political dialogue and cooperation agreement with Cuba
- Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Central Africa Party
- Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Eastern and Southern Africa States
- Investment Protection Agreement between the EU and Singapore
- Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Vietnam
- Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore
- Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories involved with the EU’s stabilisation and association process
- EU-Switzerland trade agreement
- EU trade agreement with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador
- EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement
- EU–Russia partnership and cooperation agreement
- EU-Republic of Korea free trade agreement
- EU relations with China
- EU-Japan Strategic Partnership Agreement
- EU cooperation with the ACP countries: 11th European Development Fund
- EU-Côte d'Ivoire Economic Partnership Agreement
- EU and Iceland: clarification of certain rules relating to trade (safeguard measures)
- Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the CARIFORUM states
- Economic and trade agreement between Canada and the European Union
- Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community countries
- Economic partnership agreement between the EU and Japan
- Cotonou Agreement
- Association Agreement with Ukraine
- Association Agreement with Moldova
- Agreements with Canada on customs matters
- Agreement with Bangladesh on partnership and development
- Agreement on the European Economic Area
- Agreement between the European Community and the Pacific States
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EU and the WTO
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Agreements — Development
- ACP countries — economic partnership agreements and export arrangements
- The International Coffee Agreement 2007
- Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) with South Africa
- Peace Facility for Africa
- Political dialogue and cooperation agreement with Cuba
- Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Central Africa Party
- EU-Côte d'Ivoire Economic Partnership Agreement
- Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Southern African Development Community countries
- Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and the CARIFORUM states
- Cotonou Agreement
- Agreement with Bangladesh on partnership and development
- Agreement between the European Community and the Pacific States
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Agreements — Science & technology
- EU-India agreement on research and development cooperation in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
- Scientific and technological cooperation with Jordan
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and the United States
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and South Korea
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and South Africa
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and New Zealand
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Morocco
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Mexico
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Japan
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and India
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Iceland
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Euratom and Norway
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Egypt
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and China
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Chile
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Canada
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Brazil
- Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Algeria
- Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area
- ITER: Euratom/Japan agreement on nuclear fusion
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Agreements — Customs
- 1982 International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods
- Pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin
- International convention on the simplification and harmonisation of customs procedures
- International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System
- EU–Switzerland agreement on the simplification of inspections and formalities in respect of the carriage of goods and on customs security measures
- EU-New Zealand cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters
- EU-India customs agreement
- EU customs union with Turkey
- Customs Agreement with Japan
- Convention on a common transit procedure
- Container security: EU–US agreements
- Close cooperation between EU customs administrations (Naples II Convention)
- Agreement with the Republic of Korea
- Agreement with Hong Kong on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters
- Agreement with China on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters
- Agreements with Canada on customs matters
- Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the EU and Norway on applying similar rules of origin
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Agreements — Transport
- Agreement on civil aviation safety between the European Union and Brazil
- The Transport Protocol of the Alpine Convention
- The Transport Community
- Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF)
- Interbus Agreement: the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus
- Montreal Convention on air carrier liability
- European Common Aviation Area (ECAA)
- Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between the EU and Morocco
- Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between the EU and Jordan
- Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement between the EU and Israel
- EU-US agreement on airline passenger name record data
- EU-Switzerland air transport agreement
- EU-US cooperation on civil aviation safety
- EU-US aviation agreements
- EU-Moldova common aviation area agreement
- EU-Georgia common aviation area agreement
- EU-China agreement on civil aviation safety
- EU–Canada air transport agreement
- EU–China maritime transport agreement
- Ensuring EU countries comply with and enforce the Maritime Labour Convention
- Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA)
- Air service agreements between EU and non-EU countries
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Agreements — Environment
- Access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation (Nagoya Protocol)
- Tackling threats posed by chemicals (Stockholm Convention)
- United Nations Convention to combat desertification in countries seriously affected by drought
- Transboundary effects of industrial accidents
- The Energy Charter Treaty and Protocol
- The Arctic region — new EU policy agenda
- Public access to environmental information
- OSPAR Convention
- Minamata Convention on Mercury
- International Tropical Timber Agreement
- Licensing system for imports of timber to the EU
- International Dolphin Conservation Programme
- ITER: Euratom/Japan agreement on nuclear fusion
- Geneva Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
- Helsinki Convention: preventing pollution in international watercourses and lakes
- Helsinki Convention on the protection of the Baltic Sea
- EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
- Environmental information — public participation and access to justice (Aarhus Convention)
- Convention on Biological Diversity — Cartagena protocol on biosafety
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Convention on the Protection of the Alps
- Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals — Bonn Convention
- Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA Protocol)
- Convention for the Protection of the Rhine
- Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean
- Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
- Compliance with rules on access and benefit-sharing arising from the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge
- Climate change – Paris Agreement, ratified by EU
- Civil liability for oil pollution damage: Bunkers Convention
- Bonn Agreement — dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, including air pollution caused by shipping
- Bern Convention
- Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean
- Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
- Agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the greenhouse gas emissions trading system (ETS)
- Access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters
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Conventions protecting specific areas
- Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean
- The Arctic region — new EU policy agenda
- Helsinki Convention: preventing pollution in international watercourses and lakes
- Helsinki Convention on the protection of the Baltic Sea
- European Union Strategy for the Danube Region
- EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
- Convention on the Protection of the Alps
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean
- Convention for the Protection of the Rhine
- Convention for the protection of the Danube
- Conservation of Antarctic marine living resources
- Conservation and management of high seas fishery resources in the South Pacific Ocean
- Bonn Agreement — dealing with pollution of the North Sea by oil and other harmful substances, including air pollution caused by shipping
- European statistics
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Archived summaries
- A financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights in the world (2007 – 2013)
- A Framework for EU-Iraq Engagement
- A new partnership with South-East Asia
- A stronger economic and political partnership for the 21st century
- A stronger partnership with Latin America
- Action on HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries 2006 - 2009
- Agreement between the European Union and the United States on the security of classified information
- Agreement on readmission with Russia
- Agreement on the processing and transfer of passenger name record data by air carriers to the United States Department of Homeland Security (2007 PNR Agreement)
- Association of the overseas countries and territories with the EU
- Barcelona Declaration and Euro-Mediterranean partnership
- Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean
- Black Sea Synergy
- Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine
- Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries (2009-2013)
- Common framework for joint multiannual programming
- Communication ahead of the Guadalajara summit
- Cooperation with industrialised countries (2001-2006)
- Cooperation with Non-EU Member Countries on nuclear safety
- Cross-border cooperation (CBC) 2007-2013
- Cross-border cooperation within the framework of the TACIS programme
- DCI - the EU’s financing instrument for development cooperation (2014-20)
- Eastern Partnership
- EC-Mexico Global Cooperation Agreement
- EEC-Central America Framework Cooperation Agreement
- Enhancing the Asia strategy
- Enhancing the EU's policy on Mercosur
- ENI — the European Neighbourhood Instrument (2014-2020)
- Environment strategy for the Mediterranean
- EU-China relations: a maturing partnership
- EU Common Strategy for the Mediterranean
- EU-India Strategic Partnership
- EU relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran
- EU-Russia environmental cooperation
- Euro-African Partnership for infrastructure
- Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement between the EU and Morocco
- Euro-Mediterranean association agreement between the EU and Tunisia
- Europe-Asia cooperation strategy
- European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (2007 - 2013)
- European Neighbourhood Policy: recommendations for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and for Egypt and Lebanon
- Human rights and relations in the Mediterranean
- Instrument for Stability (2007 – 2013)
- Governance in the consensus on development
- Follow-up to the Rio Summit
- Food Assistance Convention
- Facilitating the issuance of short-stay visas with Russia
- Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007
- Framework of cooperation in higher education, training and youth with Canada
- Improving relations between the EU and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council
- Financial and technical assistance and economic cooperation (1992 - 2006)
- Financial and technical cooperation with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
- Financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised and other high-income countries and territories (2007-2013)
- Financing instrument for development cooperation - DCI (2007-2013)
- IPA II: the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance 2014-2020
- Inter-regional programme: Strategy paper 2007-2013 and indicative programme 2007-2010
- Multilateral Environment for Europe process
- Neighbourhood Policy: 2008 Report
- Neighbourhood policy: participation in European Union Agencies and programmes
- Neighbourhood Policy - Strategy paper
- New EU-Latin America partnership on the eve of the 21st century
- MEDA programme
- New neighbourhood policy strategy
- Readmission agreement with Sri Lanka
- Possibilities for cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao (2007-2013)
- Regional strategy for Asia 2007-2013
- Regional strategy for CAN 2007-2013
- Regional strategy for Central America 2007-2013
- Regional strategy for Latin America 2007-2013
- Regional strategy for Mercosur 2007-2013
- Partnership for democracy and prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean
- Reinvigorating the Barcelona process
- Renewed engagement with Iraq
- Renewed partnership with Latin America
- Programme for cooperation in higher education and vocational education and training with the United States
- Tenth anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
- The Valencia Ministerial Conference and its Action Plan
- The ASEM process (Asia-Europe meeting)
- Towards a strategy for the Arctic
- Towards an EU-Brazil strategic partnership
- Towards an EU-Mexico strategic partnership
- Strategy for assistance to Central Asia 2007-2013 and indicative programme 2007-2010
- Strategy for Brazil 2007-2013
- Strategy for Chile 2007-2013
- Strategy for cooperation with Bangladesh (2007-2013)
- Strategy for cooperation with China (2007-2013)
- Strategy for cooperation with Indonesia (2007-2013)
- Strategy for cooperation with Thailand (2007-2013)
- Strategy for cooperation with the Philippines (2007-2013)
- Strategy for cooperation with Vietnam (2007-2013)
- Transit Kaliningrad - Russian mainland: proposals and implementation
- Strategy for Iraq 2011-2013
- Strategy for Russia 2007-2013
- Strategy for the eastern region 2007-2013
- Strategy for Venezuela 2007-2013
- Strengthening the EU-China partnership
- Strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy
- Tacis programme (2000-2006)
- Taking stock of the European Neighbourhood Policy