Skip to main content

The Diplomatic Service of the European Union

About us

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service. Since 2011, the EEAS carries out the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy to promote peace, prosperity, security, and the interests of Europeans across the globe.

About the European External Action Service

See also

Creation of the EEAS

Annual reports

Structure and Organisation

High Representative / Vice President

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs shapes the standing of the European Union on the global stage.

The EU international roles

All over the world, the European External Action Service, in coordination with the European Union institutions, addresses EU foreign policy priorities, including civilian and military planning and crisis response.

See also

Consular protection for EU citizens

Diplomatic corps

EU special representatives

The European Union has Special Representatives in different countries and regions of the world.

Get in touch

Contact the European External Action Service, ask general questions on the European Union or get information on visiting the EEAS.

See also

Visit the EEAS
EU in the World

The EU maintains diplomatic relations with nearly all countries in the world and undertakes a range of actions with strategic partners, key international players, and emerging and developing powers.

EU Diplomatic Representations

The Diplomatic Representations play a vital role in representing the EU and its citizens around the globe and building networks and partnerships.

Select Diplomatic Representation

Military & civilian missions & operations

Since the first CSDP missions and operations were launched back in 2003, the EU has undertaken over 37 overseas operations, using civilian and military missions and operations in several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. As of today, there are 21 ongoing CSDP missions and operations, 12 of which are civilian, and 9 military.

Select mission & operation

Regions

See also

Africa

Asia

Central Asia

Eastern Europe

Latin America & the Caribbean

Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

North America

Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)

Pacific

Western Balkans

Western Europe

Regional policies

See also

Black Sea Synergy

EU Arctic Policy

Eastern Partnership

EU Facilitated Dialogue: Belgrade-Pristina relations

European Neighbourhood Policy

Middle East Peace Process

Northern Dimension

EU Indo-Pacific Strategy

Election observation missions

Election observation missions (EOMs) provide a comprehensive, independent and impartial assessment of an electoral process according to international standards for democratic elections. The EU is a worldwide recognised credible actor in international election observation. Since 2000, the EU has deployed over 160 EOMs in more than 60 countries.

Selection Election Observation Missions

Iran & JCPOA

Since 2006, the EU High Representative has led diplomatic efforts between the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) and Iran, which led to the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program (JCPOA) in Vienna on 14 July 2015. The JCPOA is designed to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful and provides for the comprehensive lifting of UN, EU and US nuclear-related sanctions.
What we do

All over the world, the EU works to prevent and resolve conflicts, to support resilient democracies, to promote human rights and sustainable development, to fight climate change, and to contribute to a rules-based global order.

EU Peace, Security and Defence

In an increasingly interconnected world, Europe’s security starts abroad. European citizens expect and deserve to live in a safe and stable environment. In the face of increased global instability, the EU needs to take more responsibility for its own security and increase its capacity to act autonomously.

Crisis Response

Crises can affect EU citizens, staff and interests outside of the EU. To protect them, the EU is strengthening its response to security and consular crises. The EEAS Crisis Response Centre contributes to this work.

Human Rights & Democracy

In a shifting geopolitical landscape, the EU has remained a strong defender of human rights. New geopolitical rivalries only serve to underline its role as a reliable and stable partner, and a champion of the rules-based international order.

Equality

Equality and non-discrimination are guiding principles of the European Union’s action on the international scene, as enshrined in the EU Treaties. Promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion is a matter of human rights, but also of peace and security, social justice, and economic progress.

EU green diplomacy

The EEAS works in close collaboration with the European Commission and the EU Member States, and with the support of the EU Delegations, pursues climate, energy and environmental policy priorities through outreach and dialogue with partner countries, multilateralism and global action. This is known as EU Green Diplomacy.

Multilateral relations

In today’s world marked by major geopolitical and economic power shifts, multilateralism is still the most effective means to govern global relations in a way that benefits all. The EU stands committed to a renewed multilateralism fit for the 21st century.

Migration, Mobility & Forced Displacement

Migration is a global phenomenon presenting a unique set of challenges while offering substantial benefits to countries of origin and destination as well as migrants. The EU works to ensure that migration takes place in a safe, regular and sustainable manner.

EU Enlargement & Neighbourhood

The EU prioritises development and stability in the wider region and neighbourhood, working in close partnership with its neighbours to the East and South and supporting the reforms required by countries that want to become EU members.

Humanitarian & Emergency response

The European Union together with its Member States is the world’s leading humanitarian donor. New challenges, same principles, humanitarian aid is a key pillar of the EU’s external action and an important part of its ability to project its values globally.

International cooperation & partnership

The European Union, more than ever, needs to work closely with partners to face the global challenges and build together a safer, greener, more prosperous and equal world.

Cultural relations

Cultural diversity is one of the emblems of the EU and its Member States and a tool to strengthen cultural relations beyond our borders, to connect people worldwide, to share values, to improve international relations and to learn from each other’s practice.

Tackling Disinformation, Foreign Information Manipulation & Interference

Since 2015, the EU has significantly improved its capacity to tackle Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), protecting the EU’s democratic processes, security and citizens.

Global Gateway

The Global Gateway is a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.

Digital Diplomacy

Digital technologies have brought new opportunities into the lives of people around the world. They have also become key competitive parameters that can shift the balance of power. The goal of EU Digital Diplomacy is to secure the EU global role in the digital world, to protect its strategic interests and to promote its dynamic, human-centric regulatory framework for an inclusive digital transformation.

Economic relations - Trade & sustainability

In its trade relations, the EU promotes a sustainable growth model as defined by the European Green Deal and the European Digital Strategy, which can help the recovery from the COVID-19 economic crisis.

EU Sanctions

Restrictive measures, or sanctions, are one of the EU's tools to promote the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

Public Diplomacy

Building bridges between the European Union and the rest of the world

International Days

International days are key moments on the global calendar dedicated to celebrating, raising awareness and taking action on pressing issues that affect us all. From honouring human rights to championing environmental sustainability, these days unite organisations, communities, and individuals worldwide for change - one celebration, one cause, one action at a time.
Newsroom & resources

Press materials

For media inquiries, please contact the EEAS press team

Subscribe to our Press Alerts & Newsletters

See also

Press Releases

Declarations / Statements

Speeches / Remarks

Op-eds

Stories

Read recent EEAS stories from around the world.

Publications

See also

Factsheets

Documents

Reports

Media gallery

See also

Videos

Photos

Campaigns

Campaign pages are created around specific topic and actions.

Audiovisual & Streaming

See also

Europe by Satellite

Council of EU - Live

Council of EU - Newsroom

Europarl TV

Other newsrooms

See also

EU Newsroom

Other EU press release databases

European Council Press Releases

EU Press corner

Document databases and Archives

See also

EEAS Archived Websites

EEAS Public register

Public register of Council documents

EC Historical Archives

INTPA documents library
Opportunities

Job opportunities, grants and tenders at the EEAS, EU Delegations and Missions and Operations.

Vacancies

Looking for an exciting job in the field of external relations, foreign affairs and security? Find our vacancies

See also

Contract Agents

EU Delegation Programmes

Traineeships

CSDP missions

Junior Professionals in Delegations (JPD) Programme

EPSO

Tenders

Interested in one of the tenders? See how to apply for an EEAS call for tenders.

See also

How to apply for an EEAS call for tenders

Useful links and documents for tenderers and contractors

Ex-post publicity of the annual lists of contracts

Official Journal of the European Union (TED)

Auction sales

Grants

Grants can be awarded as donations to third parties that are engaged in external aid activities. Grants are managed by EuropeAid (DEVCO) or DG Near, the EEAS does not manage any grant.

See also

General information

How to apply?

Projects

The EU supports projects worldwide covering a range of sectors.

Events

Every day, events are organised worldwide by the European Union Delegations and its partners.

Language
- English
- Français
- Български
- Español
- Čeština
- Dansk
- Deutsch
- Eesti
- Ελληνικά
- Gaeilge
- Hrvatski
- Italiano
- Latviešu
- Lietuvių
- Magyar
- Malti
- Nederlands
- Polski
- Português
- Română
- Slovenčina
- Slovenščina
- Suomi
- Svenska
- Русский
- Українська

SEARCH

Search

From

To

Breadcrumb

EEAS
How the EU protects and promotes human rights through its foreign policy

PRINT

How the EU protects and promotes human rights through its foreign policy

16.08.2022

Remote video URL

RELATED VIDEOS

Press point by Alain BERSET, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and HR/VP Kaja KALLAS

VIDEO

Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine in The Hague, The Netherlands

16.12.2025

Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December.

VIDEO

EU EOM Bolivia 2025: Strengthening Democracy Through Human Rights

10.12.2025

VIDEO

Message for Human Rights Day with Mounir Satouri

10.12.2025

Exchange of views with EU HR/VP Kaja Kallas and EP AFET Committee

VIDEO

EU High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas for the Extraordinary Meeting and Exchange of Views with the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs

09.12.2025

See more

EUROPEAN UNION WEBSITES

European Union

|

European Commission

|

European Parliament

|

European Council

|

All EU Institutions

Contacts

Data protection

Privacy statements

Cookie policy

Europa analytics

Language policy

Legal notice

Accessibility

Login