Cotonou tools
There are 118 Delegations in third countries and 5 Delegations (in Geneva, New York, Paris, Rome and Vienna) at centres of international organisations (OECD, OSCE, UN and WTO). The role of Delegations includes:
presenting, explaining and implementing EU policy;
analysing and reporting on the policies and developments of the countries to which they are accredited ; and
conducting negotiations in accordance with a given mandate.
In addition, the Delegations play a key role in the implementation of external assistance. This role is expanding very greatly as a consequence of the devolution policy decided by the Commission in 2000 in order to provide EU external assistance more rapidly and more efficiently. This policy was carried out in stages over the period 2001-2004. Increasingly, not only will Delegations be closely involved in programming, but they will manage projects directly from start to finish, in close contact with the EuropeAid Co-Operation Office and host country authorities, within the framework of rules set in Brussels. They also, in concert with the EU Presidency, take the lead in on-the-spot co-ordination of the implementation of all EU assistance, multi-lateral and bi-lateral, to increase synergy and - not to be forgotten - EU visibility. According to country, the assistance covers panoply of target areas from humanitarian assistance, support for democracy and human rights as well as independent media, over mine clearance and reconstruction, institution and capacity building, to traditional development aid.