Taktshang Monastery, Bhutan - Copyright Douglas J. McLaughlin

The European Union (EU) has had a very strong presence in Bhutan since 1982. Through external cooperation programmes, the EU has helped Bhutan in achieving the Millenium Development Goals. In close cooperation with other donors and with the Bhutanese authorities, an ambitious Country Strategy Paper [262 KB] (CSP) has been prepared, focusing on the renewable natural resources sector and on good governance. See also: Mid-Term Review of CSP 2007-2013 [188 KB] and Indicative Programme 2011-2013 [188 KB]

A Memorandum of Understanding on the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2011-2013 was signed between the EU and Bhutan in December 2010. EU co-operation supports projects in the field of renewable natural resources and trade and economic capacity building.

The EU actively supports the institutional reform processes towards a constitutional monarchy. In 2008, it fielded an Election Observation Mission to observe the first ever parliamentary elections in Bhutan.