International organisations

In a globalised world, no single entity can tackle global challenges like security or migration on its own. International cooperation is therefore an essential dimension of EU Home Affairs policy.

Promoting respect for the rule of law, governing migratory movements and fighting organised crime and terrorism require intense cooperation with specialised international organisations. The EU works particularly closely with the United Nations (UN), the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Organisation on Migration (IOM), the UNHCR and many other international organisations and global processes (such as the G7/G8).

United Nations

For drugs and crime, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the EU's principal partner. Cooperation with UNODC is aimed at combating drug trafficking, organised crime, corruption and money laundering. The EU participates in the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UN CCPCJ) and in the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UN CND). The EU is a full party, as a regional economic integration organisation (REIO), to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) .

In the field of counter-terrorism, within the framework established by the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), the EU supports the efforts of non-EU countries applying UN instruments on counter-terrorism.

UNHCR

On refugee and asylum issues, the EU works closely with UNHCR, consulting it on asylum policy, with the principal goal of cooperation being enhancement of asylum capacity-building and refugee protection in non-EU countries.

IOM

Where migration is concerned, the EU participates as an observer or expert in the work of IOM, developing migration tools and concrete cooperation initiatives.