Regional Organizations

• Regionalism has become a pervasive feature of International affairs.

• By the end of 2008, 422 regional agreements for trade, cooperation,
peace keeping etc existed.
• This makes one feel that the world today is truly a functionalist’s and
Regional Organizations: EU, complex interdependence theorists’ world (David Mitrany & Ernst
Haas; Keohane & Nye) who focus on functional integration of societies.
ASEAN and SAARC. • Hurrell: Regionalization refers to the growth of societal integration
within a region and…the often undirected processes of social and
economic integration.
• Some regionalizations are being led by the state.
• Some others are being led by the market.

Regionalism in the Americas Regionalism in Europe

• Organization of American States
• North American Free Trade Organization • European Union
• Central American Integration System • Council of Europe
• Central American common market • Nordic Council
• Caribbean community • Benelux economic union
• Andean community of nations • Visegrad group
• Common market of the south
• Union of south American nations
• Latin American integration association
Regionalism in Africa Regionalism in Asia
• SAARC
• African Union
• ASEAN
• Arab Maghreb Union
• Gulf Cooperation Council
• East African community
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization
• Economic Community of West African States
• Economic Cooperation Organization
• Southern Africa Development Community
• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

Regionalism in Eurasia Some points

• Regionalism can be seen as an emerging system of global governance
• Commonwealth of Independent States • Regionalist experiences in each continent has followed different patterns based on
their different historical and cultural contexts
• Eurasian Economic Community • At one level, it arose in a context of post-colonial restructuring, economic
• Black Sea economic Cooperation protectionism or regional security concerns.
• At another level, a new wave of open regionalism began around the 1990s with the
• Euro Atlantic end of the cold war and the surge of globalization.
• Thus, it would be difficult to generalise if regional organizations as supporting local are
actually protecting the local economies or facilitating their opening up.
 SAARC
• The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional
intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia.
• Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
and Sri Lanka.
• SAARC was founded by seven states in 1985.
• In 2005, Afghanistan began negotiating their accession to SAARC and formally applied for
membership in the same year.
• SAARC comprises 3% of the world's land area, 21% of the world's population and 5.21%
(USD 4.47 trillion)[3] of the global economy, as of 2021.
• SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
• Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• The organization promotes economic development and regional integration.
• It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006.
• SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer
and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union.

• During his visit to India in December 1977, Rahman discussed the issue of regional
cooperation with the Indian Prime Minister, Morarji Desai.
• In the inaugural speech to the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee which met in
Kathmandu also in 1977, King Birendra of Nepal gave a call for close regional
• The idea of co-operation among South Asian Countries was discussed in cooperation among South Asian countries in sharing river waters.
three conferences: the Asian Relations Conference held in New Delhi in • After the USSR's intervention in Afghanistan, efforts to establish the union were
April 1947. accelerated in 1979 amid the resulting rapid deterioration of the South Asian
• In the ending years of the 1970s, the seven inner South Asian nations that security situation.
included Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri • Responding to Rahman and Birendra's convention, officials of the foreign ministries
Lanka, agreed upon the creation of a trade block and to provide a platform of the seven countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981.
for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust, • The Bangladeshi proposal was promptly endorsed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and
and understanding. Maldives, however India and Pakistan were sceptical initially.
• The Indian concern was the proposal's reference to the security matters in South
• President Zia ur Rahman later addressed official letters to the leaders of the Asia and feared that Rahman's proposal for a regional organisation might provide
countries of South Asia, presenting his vision for the future of the region an opportunity for new smaller neighbours to re-internationalize all bilateral issues
and compelling arguments for co-operation. and to join with each other to form an opposition against India.
 • Pakistan assumed that it might be an Indian strategy to organize the • In 1983, at the international conference held in Dhaka by its Ministry of
other South Asian countries against Pakistan and ensure a regional Foreign Affairs, the foreign ministers of the inner seven countries adopted
market for Indian products, thereby consolidating and further the Declaration on South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
and formally launched the Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) initially
strengthening India's economic dominance in the region. in five agreed areas of cooperation, namely, Agriculture; Rural
• However, after a series of diplomatic consultations headed by Development; Telecommunications; Meteorology; and Health and
Bangladesh between South Asian UN representatives at the UN Population Activities.
headquarters in New York, from September 1979 to 1980, it was • Officially, the union was established in Dhaka with Kathmandu being the
agreed that Bangladesh would prepare the draft of a working paper union's secretariat-general.
for discussion among the foreign secretaries of South Asian countries. • The first SAARC summit was held in Dhaka on 7–8 December 1985 and
• The foreign secretaries of the inner seven countries again delegated a hosted by the President of Bangladesh Hussain Ershad.
Committee of the Whole in Colombo in September 1981, which • The declaration was signed by, namely, King of Bhutan Jigme Singye
identified five broad areas for regional cooperation. New areas of co- Wangchuk; President of Pakistan Zia-ul-Haq; Prime Minister of India Rajiv
operation were added in the following years Gandhi; King of Nepal Birendra Shah; President of Sri Lanka JR
Jayewardene; and President of Maldives Maumoon Gayoom.

SAARC NOW Principles

There are currently nine Observers to SAARC, namely:
(i) Australia;
(ii) China; • Cooperation within the framework of the SAARC shall be based on:
(iii) the European Union; • Respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity,
(iv) Iran; political independence, non-interference in the internal affairs of other
(v) Japan; States and mutual benefit.
(vi) the Republic of Korea;
• Such cooperation shall not be a substitute for bilateral and multilateral
(vii) Mauritius;
cooperation but shall complement them.
(viii) Myanmar;
(ix) the United States of America • Such cooperation shall not be inconsistent with bilateral and multilateral
While representatives of the observer nations are allowed to sit and speak in the inaugural and obligations
concluding sessions, they are not allowed to engage in negotiations or vote on matters
discussed at summits.
 Objectives Principal Organs
• To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life. • Meeting of Heads of State or Government
• To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region • Meetings are held at the Summit level, usually on an annual basis.
and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full
potentials. • Standing Committee of Foreign Secretaries
• To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia. • The Committee provides overall monitoring and coordination, determines priorities,
• To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s mobilizes resources, and approves projects and financing.
problems.. • Secretariat
• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, • The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987. Its role is to
technical and scientific fields. coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings
• To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries. of the association and serve as a channel of communication between SAARC and other
• To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of international organizations.
common interests; and • The Secretariat comprises the secretary-general, seven directors, and the general
• To cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and services staff. The secretary-general is appointed by the Council of Ministers on the
purposes. principle of rotation, for a non-renewable tenure of three years.

Specialized bodies Efforts

SAARC Development Fund (SDF):
• Its primary objective is funding of project-based collaboration in social sectors such as poverty alleviation,
development, etc.
• Free Trade Area (FTA): SAARC is comparatively a new organization in the
global arena. The member countries have established a Free Trade Area
• SDF is governed by a Board consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Finance of the Member States. (FTA) which will increase their internal trade and lessen the trade gap of
The Governing Council of SDF (Finance Ministers of MSs) oversees the functioning of the Board.
South Asian University
some states considerably.
• South Asian University (SAU) is an international university, located in India. Degrees and Certificates awarded • SAPTA: South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement for promoting trade
by the SAU are at par with the respective Degrees and Certificates awarded by the National Universities/ amongst the member countries came into effect in 1995.
Institutions.
South Asian Regional Standards Organization • SAFTA: A Free Trade Agreement confined to goods, but excluding all
• South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) has its Secretariat at Dhaka, Bangladesh.
services like information technology. Agreement was signed to reduce
customs duties of all traded goods to zero by the year 2016.
• It was established to achieve and enhance coordination and cooperation among SAARC member states in
the fields of standardization and conformity assessment and is aimed to develop harmonized Standards for
the region to facilitate intra-regional trade and to have access in the global market.
• SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS): SATIS is following the GATS-
plus 'positive list' approach for trade in services liberalization.
SAARC Arbitration Council
• It is an inter-governmental body having its office in Pakistan is mandated to provide a legal • SAARC University: Establish a SAARC university in India, a food bank and
framework/forum within the region for fair and efficient settlement of commercial, industrial, trade, also an energy reserve in Pakistan.
banking, investment and such other disputes, as may be referred to it by the member states and their
people.
 Challenges
• Low frequency of meetings: More engagement is required by the
member states and instead of meeting biennial meetings should be
held annually.
• Limitation in SAFTA: The implementation of SAFTA has not been
satisfactory a Free Trade Agreement confined to goods, excluding all
services like information technology.
• Boundary issues:
• Indo-Pak Relations: Escalated tension and conflict between India and Pakistan
have severely hampered the prospects of SAARC.

ASEAN Evolution
• The need to create a group in the region initially motivated by the desire to contain
communism.
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic • Communism had taken a foothold in mainland Asia with the Soviet Union occupation of
union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia. the northern Korean peninsula after World War II, establishing communist governments
in North Korea (1945), People's Republic of China (1949) and portions of former French
• Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Indochina with North Vietnam (1954), accompanied by the communist insurgency
"Emergency" in British Malaya and unrest in the recently independent Philippines from
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam the U S. in the early 1950s.
• It seeks to promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates • SEATO was already formed in 1954.
economic, political, security, military, educational, and socio-cultural • An organisation called the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) was formed on 31 July
1961, a group consisting of Thailand, the Philippines, and the Federation of Malaya.
integration between its members and countries in the Asia-Pacific. • ASEAN itself was created on 8 August 1967, when the foreign ministers of five countries:
• The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, signed the ASEAN
Declaration.
• 8th August is observed as ASEAN Day. • Enlargement: Brunei Darussalam (1984); Viet Nam (1995); Lao PDR and Myanmar (1997);
and Cambodia (1999)
 Institution Mechanism
Aims • ASEAN Secretariat – Indonesia, Jakarta.
• Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English
• To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development for a names of Member States.
prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations. • ASEAN Summit: The supreme policy making body of ASEAN. As the highest level of
• To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and authority in ASEAN, the Summit sets the direction for ASEAN policies and objectives. Under
the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. the Charter, the Summit meets twice a year.
• To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common • ASEAN Ministerial Councils: The Charter established four important new Ministerial bodies
interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative to support the Summit.
fields. • ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC)
• To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of agriculture and • ASEAN Political-Security Community Council
industries, the expansion of their trade, the improvement of transportation and • ASEAN Economic Community Council
communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of peoples. • ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council
• To promote Southeast Asian studies. • Decision Making: The primary mode of decision-making in ASEAN is consultation and
consensus.
• To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and
regional organisations. • However, the Charter enshrines the principle of ASEAN-X – This means that if all member
states are in agreement, a formula for flexible participation may be used so that the
members who are ready may go ahead while members who need more time for
implementation may apply a flexible timeline.

ASEAN Political-Security Community Council

ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC)
• The APSC Council comprises members of ministerial rank as designated by the respective
• Established in 2008, the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) comprises the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and meets at ASEAN Member States.
least twice a year to prepare for the ASEAN Summit. The ACC coordinates the implementation of the mandate of
ASEAN Leaders and all cross-pillar initiatives of ASEAN. As stipulated in the Article 8 of the ASEAN Charter, the ACC • In practice, almost all ASEAN Member States is represented by their respective Foreign
shall: Ministers, with the exception of Indonesia, which is collectively represented by its Foreign
Minister and its Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.
• prepare the meetings of the ASEAN Summit;
• Since its first meeting in 2009, the Council is hosted by the Member State holding the
ASEAN Chairmanship to meet twice a year in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit.
• coordinate the implementation of agreements and decisions of the ASEAN Summit;
• coordinate with the ASEAN Community Councils to enhance policy coherence, efficiency and cooperation
• The APSC Council is responsible for the overall implementation of the APSC Blueprint;
among them;
coordinate efforts among all sectoral bodies under its purview, or on issues which cut
across the other Community Councils.
• coordinate the reports of the ASEAN Community Council to the ASEAN Summit;
• consider the annual report of the Secretary-General on the work of ASEAN;
• The APSC Council also submits reports or recommendations to the ASEAN Summit on
matters under his purview.
• consider the report of the Secretary-General on the functions and operations of the ASEAN Secretariat and
other relevant bodies; • In general, the progress of implementation of the APSC Blueprint shall be reported
annually by the Secretary-General of ASEAN to the annual ASEAN Summit, through the
• approve the appointment and termination of the Deputy Secretaries-General upon the recommendation APSC Council.
of the Secretary-General; and
• undertake other tasks provided for in this Charter or such other functions as may be assigned by the
ASEAN Summit.
 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council
ASEAN Economic Council

• The AEC Council shall contribute to the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision • The ASEAN Socio Cultural Community is all about realizing the full potential of ASEAN
through the fulfilment of the objective of the ASEAN Community Pillar. citizens. The ASCC Blueprint 2025 was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 27th ASEAN
• To realise the objective of the AEC, the AEC Council shall: Summit on 22 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ACSS is working towards:
• Ensure the implementation of AEC-relevant decisions of the ASEAN Summit;
• Coordinate the work of the AEC Sectoral Bodies, and on issues that cut across the other Community • A committed, participative, and socially responsible community for the benefit of ASEAN people
Councils; and
• An inclusive community that promotes high quality of life, equitable access to opportunities for all, and
• Submit reports and recommendations to the ASEAN Summit on matters related to the AEC. promotes and protects human rights.
• A sustainable community that promotes social development and environmental protection
• A resilient community with enhanced capacity and capability to adapt and respond to social and
economic vulnerabilities, disasters, climate change, and other new challenges, and
• A dynamic and harmonious community that is aware and proud of its identity, culture and heritage.

ASEAN-led Forums
ASEAN Community
• Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, (SEANWFZ) or the Bangkok Treaty of
• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): Launched in 1993, the twenty-seven-member multilateral 1995, is a nuclear weapons moratorium treaty between 10 Southeast Asian member-
grouping was developed to facilitate cooperation on political and security issues to states under the auspices of the ASEAN.
contribute to regional confidence-building and preventive diplomacy.
• it entered into force on March 28, 1997 and obliges its members not to develop,
• ASEAN Plus Three: The consultative group initiated in 1997 brings together ASEAN’s ten manufacture or otherwise acquire, possess or have control over nuclear weapons.
members, China, Japan, and South Korea.
• The treaty includes a protocol under which the five nuclear-weapon states recognized by
• East Asia Summit (EAS): First held in 2005, the summit seeks to promote security and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), namely China, the United
prosperity in the region and is usually attended by the heads of state from ASEAN, States, France, Russia and the United Kingdom (who are also the five permanent
Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. members of the United Nations Security Council) undertake to respect the Treaty and do
ASEAN plays a central role as the agenda-setter. not contribute to a violation of it by State parties. None of the nuclear-weapon states
have signed this protocol.
 Strengths & Opportunities Challenges
• Regional imbalances in the economic and social status of its individual markets.
• ASEAN commands far greater influence on Asia-Pacific trade, political, and security • Gap between rich and poor ASEAN member states remains very large and they have a mixed record
issues than its members could achieve individually. on income inequality.
• Demographic dividend – It constitutes 3rd largest population in the world, of which • While Singapore boasts the highest GDP per capita—nearly $53,000 (2016), Cambodia’s per capita
GDP is the lowest at less than $1,300.
more than half is below thirty years of age.
• Many regional initiatives were not able to be incorporated into national plans, as the less developed
• Economic: countries faced resource constraints to implement the regional commitments.
• 3rd largest market in the world - larger than EU and North American markets. • The members’ political systems are equally mixed with democracies, communist, and authoritarian
• 6th largest economy in the world, 3rd in Asia. states.
• Free-trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New • While the South China Sea is the main issue exposing the organization’s rifts.
Zealand. • ASEAN has been divided over major issues of human rights. For example, crackdowns in Myanmar
• Fourth most popular investment destination globally. against the Rohingyas.
• ASEAN’s share of global exports has also risen, from only 2 percent in 1967 to 7 percent by • Inability to negotiate a unified approach with regards to China, particularly in response to its
2016, indicating the rising importance of trade to ASEAN’s economic prospects. widespread maritime claims in the South China Sea.
• The ASEAN Single Aviation Market and Open Skies policies have increased its transport and • The emphasis on consensus sometimes becomes the a chief drawback – difficult problems have been
connectivity potential. avoided rather than confronted.
• ASEAN has contributed to regional stability by building much-needed norms and • There is no central mechanism to enforce compliance.
fostering a neutral environment to address shared challenges. • Inefficient dispute-settlement mechanism, whether it be in the economic or political spheres.

• ASEAN regularly engages other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. A major European Union
partner of UN, SCO, PA, GCC, MERCOSUR, CELAC and ECO, ASEAN maintains a global
network of alliances and dialogue partners and is considered by many as a global • The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member
powerhouse,the central union for cooperation in Asia-Pacific, and a prominent and states that are located primarily in Europe.
influential organization.
• Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic,
• It is involved in numerous international affairs, and hosts diplomatic missions Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
throughout the world. Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
• The organization's success has become the driving force of some of the largest trade Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
blocs in history, including APEC and RCEP. • Motto: United in diversity
• The stars on its flag symbolize:
– unity
– solidarity
– harmony among the peoples of Europe.
 Why Was the European Union created?

• The EU was created in the aftermath of WWII. The first steps were to
foster economic cooperation: countries that trade with one another
are economically interdependent and will thus avoid conflict.
• Through a series of trade and political agreements from 1951 – 1993,
a European Community (EC) was created.
– Focused on economic and political cooperation among the countries.
•These included:
• The Paris Treaty of 1952: six nations (France, Belgium, Netherlands,
Luxembourg, West Germany and Italy) created the European Coal and Steel
Community (ECSC)
• Treaty of Rome (1957): Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
and West Germany signed the Treaty of Rome, which created the European
Economic Community (EEC) and established a customs union.

Maastricht Treaty Aims

• In 1993, the Maastricht Treaty was signed, replacing the EEC with the • To offer EU citizens freedom, security and justice, without internal borders, while
EU. also controlling external borders. To work towards the sustainable development of
Europe, promoting equality and social justice.
• The European Union was formally established when the Maastricht • It seeks to
Treaty—whose main architects were Horst Köhler, Helmut Kohl and 1. Promote economic and social progress. Help people earn enough money and get treated
François Mitterrand—came into force on 1 November 1993. fairly.
• Maastricht Treaty established: 2. Speak for the European Union on the international scene. By working as a group the EU hopes
– Common Foreign and Security Policy that Europe will be listened to more by other countries.
– Coordinated policy on asylum, immigration, drugs, and terrorism
3. Introduce European citizenship. Anyone from a member state is a citizen of the EU and gets
– EU citizenship, which allowed people to travel freely throughout the EU four special rights.
– Established a timetable for an economic and monetary union.
– Specified the economic and budgetary criteria which would determine when 4. Develop Europe as an area of freedom, security and justice. Help Europeans to live in safety,
countries were ready to join without the threat of war.

• Treaty of Lisbon (2009): Changed the EU into a single legal personality. 5. Maintain and build on established EU law. Make laws that protect peoples rights in the
member countries.
These are the five big things the EU has set out to do.

1. Promote economic and social progress. Help people earn enough money Institutional Set up
and get treated fairly.
• The European Union’s institutional set-up is unique and its decision-making
2. Speak for the European Union on the international scene. By working as a system is constantly evolving.
group the EU hopes that Europe will be listened to more by other countries. • There are 7 European institutions, 7 EU bodies and over 30 decentralised
agencies are spread across the EU. They work together to address the
3. Introduce European citizenship. Anyone from a member state is a citizen common interests of the EU and European people.
of the EU and gets four special rights. • In terms of administration, there are a further 20 EU agencies and
organisations which carry out specific legal functions and 4 inter-institutional
4. Develop Europe as an area of freedom, security and justice. Help services which support the institutions.
Europeans to live in safety, without the threat of war. • All of these establishments have specific roles – from developing EU laws and
policy-making to implementing policies and working on specialist areas, such
5. Maintain and build on established EU law. Make laws that protect peoples as health, medicine, transport and the environment.
rights in the member countries.

European Parliament
Institutions Represents the citizens of EU countries and is directly elected by them. It takes
decisions on European laws jointly with the Council of the European Union. It
• the European Parliament (Brussels/Strasbourg/Luxembourg) also approves the EU budget. It runs a network of liaison offices in EU capitals,
London, Edinburgh and Washington D.C.
• the European Council (Brussels)
• the Council of the European Union (Brussels/Luxembourg)
European Council
• the European Commission (Brussels/Luxembourg/Representations
across the EU) The heads of state or government of the EU countries meet, as the European
Council, to define the general political direction and priorities of the European
• Court of Justice of the European Union Union. The European Council is chaired by a president who is elected for a 2.5-
• European Central Bank year term, renewable once. It does not adopt laws except for possible EU Treaty
• European Court of Auditors amendments.
Council of the European Union
Represents the governments of EU countries. The Council of the EU is where national ministers from
each government meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies. Ministers meet in different configurations
depending on the topic to be discussed. The Council of the EU takes decisions on European laws jointly
with the European Parliament.

European Commission Court of Justice of the European Union

Represents the common interests of the EU and is the EU’s main executive body. It uses its ‘right of The Court ensures that EU law is followed, and that the Treaties are correctly interpreted and
initiative’ to put forward proposals for new laws, which are scrutinised and adopted by the European applied: it reviews the legality of the acts of the EU institutions, ensures that EU countries comply
Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It also manages EU policies (except for the Common with their obligations under the Treaties, and interprets EU law at the request of national courts.
Foreign and Security Policy, which is conducted by the High Representative for CFSP, Vice-President of the
European Commission), and the EU’s budget and ensures that countries apply EU law correctly.
Representation offices act as the Commission’s voice across the EU. They monitor and analyse public European Central Bank
opinion in their host country, provide information about EU policies and the way the EU works, and The ECB and the European System of Central Banks are responsible for keeping prices stable in the
facilitate the Commission’s cooperation with the host member country. euro area. They are also responsible for the monetary and exchange rate policy in the Eurozone and
support EU economic policies.
The work of these 4 main EU institutions, which covers the legislative and executive tasks of the EU, is
complemented by the work of another 3 EU institutions: the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors
European Central Bank and the European Court of Auditors. These 3 institutions are responsible for
managing the judicial, financial and external audit aspects of the European Union. The ECA contributes to improving EU financial management, and promoting accountability and
transparency, and acts as the independent guardian of the financial interests of EU citizens. It
checks that EU funds are correctly accounted for, that they are raised and spent in accordance with
the relevant rules and regulations, and that they deliver value for money.

Bodies European Investment Bank

European External Action Service
The EIB is the lending arm of the European Union. It focuses its activities on climate
and the environment, development, innovation and skills, small and medium-sized
The EEAS is the European Union’s diplomatic service. It helps the High Representative for Foreign businesses, infrastructure and cohesion.
Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission implement the EU’s
common foreign and security policy, and ensures the consistency and coordination of the EU’s European Ombudsman
external action. It has a network of EU Delegations throughout the world.
The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body that holds the EU’s
institutions and agencies to account and promotes good administration. The
European Economic and Social Committee Ombudsman helps people, businesses and organisations who face problems with the
The EESC represents a variety of civil society stakeholders from across Europe, including employers,
workers and representatives from other social, occupational, economic and cultural organisations.
EU by investigating complaints about maladministration, as well as by proactively
The European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission consult looking into broader systemic issues.
the EESC when they take decisions on policy matters within its remit. European Data Protection Supervisor
The EDPS ensures that EU institutions and bodies respect people’s right to privacy
European Committee of the Regions when processing their personal data.
The CoR represents regional and local authorities. The European Parliament, the Council of the
European Union and the European Commission consult the CoR on matters of relevance to local and European Data Protection Board
regional authorities.
The EDPB is an independent body that ensures the consistent application of data
protection rules throughout the EU, and promotes cooperation between national
data protection authorities in the EU.
 Priority Area (2019)
Protecting citizens and freedoms Achievements
Ensuring effective control of the EU’s external borders and further developing a comprehensive migration policy. Fighting
terrorism and cross-border/online crime, increasing the EU's resilience against both natural and man-made disasters.
• Single market:
Developing a strong and vibrant economic base • The EU's main economic engine is the single market. It enables most goods,
Building a resilient economy by deepening the Economic and Monetary Union to ensure that Europe is better prepared for future
shocks, completing the banking and capital markets union, strengthening the international role of the euro, investing in skills and
services, money and people to move freely throughout most of the
education, supporting Europe’s businesses, embracing digital transformation, and developing a robust industrial policy. continent.
• It has certainly become much easier to move around Europe – all EU
Building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe citizens have the right to study, work or retire in any EU country. As an EU
Investing in green initiatives that improve air and water quality, promote sustainable agriculture and preserve environmental national, for employment, social security and tax purposes, every EU
systems and biodiversity. Creating an effective circular economy (where products are designed to be more durable, reusable, country is required to treat you exactly the same as its own citizens.
repairable, recyclable and energy-efficient) and a well-functioning EU energy market that provides sustainable, secure and
affordable energy. A faster transition to renewables and energy efficiency, while reducing the EU’s dependency on outside energy • Euro– used by over 340 million EU citizens, the euro has eliminated the risk
sources. Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights.
of currency fluctuation and exchange costs, and strengthened the single
market – to the benefit of all.
Promoting European interests and values on the global stage
• Telephone & digital services – you can use your phone and online services
Building a robust foreign policy based on an ambitious neighbourhood policy with 16 of its closest eastern and southern
neighbours and a comprehensive partnership with Africa. Promoting global peace, stability, democracy and human rights. at no extra cost across the EU, thanks to the end of roaming rules.
Ensuring a robust trade policy in line with multilateralism and the global rules-based international order. Taking greater
responsibility for security and defence, while cooperating closely with NATO.

Peace and stability EU rights for its citizens

• Since 1957, the European Union has achieved great things for its • Citizen protection and fundamental rights
citizens and the world: • Employment rights
• a continent at peace • Consumer Rights
• freedom for its citizens to live, study or work anywhere in • Food quality
the EU
• Environment quality
• the world’s biggest single market
• aid and development assistance for millions of people
worldwide
Challenges
• Brexit and England
• Maintaining Peace & stability especially on the face of Russia-Ukraine war
• The authoritarian drift of Hungary and Poland, both with post-pandemic
recovery funds blocked until they reverse their violations of the principles
on which the EU is based, such as judicial independence and non-
discrimination, will remain one of the EU's main internal challenges in
2022.
• Within the European Union, in parallel to the lack of progress in the
negotiation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, the division
continues between Spain and other frontline countries, which are calling
for an equitable distribution of responsibility in migration matters, and
others such as the Visegrad countries - Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic
and Hungary - that are reluctant to take in refugees.