The European Union’s external action

Part Five of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) contains a series of articles on the external action of the European Union (EU). In addition, Title V of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) sets out general rules on the EU’s external action and specific rules on its common foreign and security policy (CFSP).

The EU’s external action comprises:

• its commercial (trade) policy — Articles 206 and 207 TFEU;
• development cooperation — Articles 208, 209, 210 and 211 TFEU;
• economic, financial and technical cooperation with non-EU countries — Articles 212 and 213 TFEU;
• humanitarian aid — Article 214 TFEU;
• CFSP and CSDP — (Articles 21-46 TEU);
• the external dimension of other EU internal policies (such as migration, environmental protection, etc.).

As part of its external action, the EU can adopt restrictive measures (Article 215 TFEU), conclude international agreements (Articles 216, 217, 218 and 219 TFEU), establish relations with international organisations and non-EU countries or set up EU delegations (Articles 220 and 221 TFEU).

SEE ALSO

• Common foreign and security policy (CFSP)
• Common security and defence policy (CSDP)
• Development cooperation
• Distribution of competences
• European External Action Service (EEAS)
• EU powers and competences
• EU trade policy
• High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
• Humanitarian aid
• Restrictive measures (sanctions)
• General framework for EU sanctions (summary)
• International agreements and the EU’s external competences (summary)
• Partnership with the United Nations: development assistance and humanitarian aid (summary)
• EU guidelines on the promotion of compliance with international humanitarian law (summary)
• European External Action Service (European External Action Service).