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The sheer size of the EU in economic, trade and financial terms makes it a world player. It has a web of agreements with most countries and regions of the globe. The biggest international trader and home to the euro - the world's second currency - the EU spends € 500 million a month on assistance projects in all five continents.

The EU did not set out to become a world power. Born in the aftermath of World War II, its first concern was bringing together the nations and peoples of Europe. But as the Union expanded and took on more responsibilities, it had to define its relationships with the rest of the world. Just as it has worked to remove trade barriers, develop poorer regions and promote peaceful co-operation within its frontiers, so the EU works with other countries and international organisations to bring everyone the benefits of open markets, economic growth and stability in an increasingly interdependent world. At the same time, the EU defends its legitimate economic and commercial interests in the international arena.

Finally, the EU shows how countries can successfully pool economic and political resources in the common interest. It has served as a model for integration between countries in other regions of the world, such as Mercosur in South America and ASEAN is South-east Asia.

In the last fifteen years, the EU has intensified efforts to play an international political and security role more in line with its economic status. The conflicts that erupted in Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 convinced EU leaders of the need for effective joint action. More recently, the fight against international terrorism has strengthened this conviction.

A major challenge now is to spread peace and security beyond the EU's borders. To meet this challenge, the EU is developing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) so that it can act as a force for stability, co-operation and understanding in the wider world.

For more than forty years, the Cold War divided much of the world into two camps. Its ending led to a more complex and fragile world order, requiring greater EU involvement in preventing conflicts and keeping the peace. For example, the EU helps pay for the UN civil administration in Kosovo and the Office of the High Representative in BiH, provides ongoing financial support for the Palestinian Authority and is contributing substantially to reconstruction in Afghanistan.

In 2003, the EU embarked on the first missions under its new European Defence and Security Policy, in the Western Balkans and central Africa. More will follow. Currently, 55,000 European peacekeepers are deployed around the world. By helping to create security and stability in the wider world, the EU also helps to make life safer within its own borders.

The EU is particularly active in promoting the human aspects of international relations, such as solidarity, human rights and democracy.

The EU's agreements with its partners around the globe cover not only trade and traditional financial and technical assistance; they also provide a framework for political dialogue and contain a clause which enables the EU to suspend or cancel trade or aid if the partner country violates human rights. In 2003, the EU decided that all new agreements must include a clause in which its partners commit themselves to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The EU's trade policy is closely linked to its development policy, helping developing countries fight poverty and integrate into the global economy. The EU offers lower tariffs on imports from countries which respect the basic working conditions and labour standards laid down by the International Labour Organisation.

The EU and its Member States pay out more than € 30 billion a year in official aid to developing countries, of which about € 6 billion is channelled through the EU institutions. The Union has committed itself to raising the annual total to € 39 billion by 2006.

• European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

The EU promotes respect for human rights at home and abroad. It focuses on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. It also seeks to promote the rights of women and children as well as of minorities and displaced persons.

The Council of the EU has elaborated a series of human rights guidelines which serve as a framework for protecting and promoting human rights in third countries. These guidelines cover so far the death penalty, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, human rights dialogues with third countries, children affected by armed conflicts and human rights defenders. In addition, the EU has adopted guidelines on International Humanitarian Law with relevance for the human rights protection and promotion. The EU human rights guidelines are available in 20 EU languages, as well as in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi and Russian.  http://www.ec.europa.eu/external_relations/human_rights/guidelines/index.htm

Human rights feature in the EU's trade and co-operation agreements with its partners and are a prerequisite for countries seeking to become members.

The EU also helps pay for a range of activities that defend human rights, such as the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), which spends around €100 million a year on:

• strengthening democracy, good government and the rule of law;
  
• supporting the worldwide abolition of the death penalty;
  
• combating torture and impunity and supporting international tribunals and criminal courts;
  
• combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination against minorities and indigenous peoples.

EU humanitarian aid is unconditional; the aim is to get help to victims as quickly as possible irrespective of race, religion or the political convictions of their government.

The EU channels its relief funding through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). Since it was set up in 1992, ECHO has confronted serious crises in more than 100 countries around the world, getting essential equipment and emergency supplies to the victims as quickly as possible.

From its budget of more than € 500 million a year, ECHO also funds medical teams, mine-clearance experts, transport and logistical support.