EU BUDGET

Budgetary Headings

EU as a global...

4. EU as a global player

The EU's external policy covers trade, development assistance and cooperation agreements. The EU also provides humanitarian assistance and support to areas in crisis.

The EU's trade agreements with third countries are signed within the framework of the World Trade Organization and on a bilateral level with countries or groups of countries.

The EU seeks to promote respect for human rights including, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the rights of women and children, minorities and displaced persons.

For the next budgetary period, the EU seeks to strengthen its role in the world. In order to better achieve this goal, the financial structure has been simplified for the next budgetary period; approximately 30 legislative instruments have been reduced to six and four being completely new.

The European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), serves to build stronger relations with our nearest neighbours (including Russia).

The Instrument for Pre Accession (IPA) finances actions aimed at facilitating the accession procedure for candidate countries (Turkey and Croatia) and potential candidate countries (Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo).

The Development Cooperation and Economic Co-operation Instrument (DCECI), is concerned with increasing the standard of living throughout the world. It caters to countries not covered by ENPI or IPA.

The Instrument for Stability was created to provide financial assistance during crises and instability in third countries.

The two remaining instruments, Humanitarian Aid and Macro Financial Assistance, have not been revised and will be applicable in the period 2007-2013