The European Union's size in economic, trade and financial terms puts it on the forefront of the world players. With agreements with most countries around the globe, the EU is the biggest international trader and financier of assistance projects in all five continents.

Born in the aftermath of World War II, the EU fully realises the importance of solidarity, human rights and democracy. That is why the promotion of these aspects forms part of the EU's foreign policy.

A major challenge in today's world, in what regards foreign policy, is to spread peace and security beyond the member states' borders. After having the world divided for more than four decades by the Cold War, an unbalance of power occurred leaving a complex and fragile world order. The EU, finding itself as a major world player, involved itself in conflict prevention, peace preservation and combating terrorism.

The biggest contribution the EU is making to the world is by providing a model whereby, from a scenario of war-shattered countries, integration between states brings economic growth and stability within the region.

The EU's agreements with its partners around the globe cover not only trade and traditional financial and technical assistance but also economic and other reforms as well as support for infrastructural and health and education programmes. They also provide a framework for political dialogue and contain a clause that enables the Union to suspend or cancel trade or aid if the partner country violates human rights.

Violent conflicts have an unacceptable toll in terms of human suffering, destruction and wasted resources. During the 1990s, seven violent conflicts around the globe cost the international community €200 billion that could otherwise have been used for peaceful purposes. This is why the EU is determined to act more effectively to prevent conflicts from happening in the first place.

The EU already uses a wide range of traditional tools, including technical and financial assistance to developing countries, economic cooperation and trade relations, humanitarian aid, social and environmental policies as well as diplomatic instruments like political dialogue and mediation. However, it also employs new tools provided by the European Security and Defence Policy - ESDP, such as gathering information and monitoring international agreements to anticipate potential conflicts.

A way to prevent such conflicts is by assuring stability. This may be achieved by eradicating poverty through sustainable development. The EU attaches particular importance to the current round, known as the Doha Development Round, that was launched in 2001. The aim is to remove obstacles to open trade, particularly to benefit developing countries.

This may be achieved by assisting poor countries to improve their infrastructures, develop their productive potential and make their public administration and institutions more efficient. Through such support, some will be able to grasp trade opportunities and secure more inward investment to broaden their economic base. This is essential in enabling countries to integrate into the global economy and achieve sustainable growth and development.

It is commonly understood that certain issues are not so easy going and in particular situations humanitarian aid is a must. 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 and mine-clearance experts and provides transport and logistical support.

ECHO does not have the resources to do all this work itself. It therefore works closely with humanitarian partners - non-governmental organisations, UN specialised agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement - to deliver food and equipment, provide rescue teams, set up emergency field hospitals and install temporary communications systems.

Humanitarian aid is just one area where the EU works closely with international organisations such as the UN, the WTO, Nato, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and regional organisations in Africa, America, Asia and the Pacific.

Thanks to a network of association, cooperation and trade agreements, which form a web all over the globe, the EU works with various partners.

In recent years, the EU has intensified its relations with Asian countries. It has also intensified its relations with Japan. An EU-Japan action plan, adopted in 2001, expands the range of bilateral cooperation beyond trade and investment to include political and cultural affairs.

The EU has also increased the importance it gives to China. On the commercial front, China is now the EU's second biggest trading partner outside Europe - after the United States and ahead of Japan. The EU is one of the principal sources of foreign investment in China.

Relations and work is not restricted only to the Asian continent. Indeed, the EU has several partnerships and cooperation agreements with all continents.

With a strong foreign policy, the EU can guarantee stronger relations for its member states to develop trade relations outside its borders. This will guarantee economic growth to all EU countries.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.

david.casa@europarl.eu, www.davidcasa.eu