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How the
EU conducts its external relations
Since its birth in the 1950s, the European Union has been developing
relations with the rest of the world through a common policy on trade,
development assistance and formal trade and cooperation agreements with
individual countries or regional groups.
The EU began providing humanitarian aid to those in need around the
world in the 1970s. Since 1993, under the Maastricht Treaty, it has been
developing a common foreign and security policy (CSFP) to enable it to
take joint action when the interests of the Union as a whole are at
stake. Defence is becoming an important aspect of the CFSP as the EU
seeks to promote and maintain stability around the world. As it deals
with terror, international crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration
and global issues like the environment, the Union also works closely
with other countries and international organisations.
The EU’s common trade policy operates at two levels. Firstly, within the
World Trade Organisation (WTO), the European Union is actively involved
in setting the rules for the multilateral system of global trade.
Secondly, the EU negotiates its own bilateral trade agreements with
countries or regional groups of countries.
Development assistance and cooperation, originally concentrated in
Africa, was extended to Asia, Latin America and the southern and eastern
Mediterranean countries in the mid-1970s. The underlying purpose is
always to support sustainable growth and development in the partner
countries, so that they have the resources to tackle and eradicate
poverty. The Union has every interest in supporting its partners and
encouraging them to be successful and prosperous.
More than trade and aid
The EU’s agreements with its partners around the globe cover not only
trade and traditional financial and technical assistance but also
economic and other reforms as well as support for infrastructure and
health and education programmes. They also provide a framework for
political dialogue and contain a clause which enables the Union to
suspend or cancel trade or aid if the partner country violates human
rights. Moreover, in 2003, the EU decided that all new agreements must
include a clause in which its partners commit themselves to the
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The EU has to make sure that the different aspects of its external
policies are consistent with each other and convey a clear overall
message. To help achieve this, it appointed a High Representative for
foreign and security policy in 1999. In June 2004, EU leaders agreed in
principle to create the post of EU foreign minister. This is one of the
new arrangements laid down in the EU Constitutional Treaty.
Promoting human rights
The European Union promotes respect for human rights at home and abroad.
It focuses on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It
also seeks to promote the rights of women and children as well as of
minorities and displaced persons.
Human rights feature in the EU’s trade and cooperation agreements with
its partners and are a prerequisite for countries seeking to join the
Union itself. The EU has maintained a human rights dialogue in recent
years with countries like China and Iran. It has imposed sanctions for
human rights breaches on several countries including Serbia,
Burma/Myanmar and Zimbabwe.
The EU also helps pay for a range of activities that defend human
rights, such as the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights
which spends around €100 million a year on:
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strengthening democracy, good government and the rule of law.
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support
for the worldwide abolition of the death penalty.
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combating torture and impunity and supporting international
tribunals and criminal courts.
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combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination against minorities
and indigenous peoples.
In addition,
the EU offers lower tariffs on imports from countries which respect the
basic working conditions and labour standards laid down by the
International Labour Organisation.
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