Following the Treaty of Lisbon, the European External Action Service is responsible for running 140 European Union Delegations and Offices operating around the world, representing the European Union and its citizens globally.
The main functions of the Delegation to Laos are:
- Political: The Delegation monitors political developments in Laos and reports to EU headquarters on these developments. The EU Ambassador also participates, together with the Heads of Mission of the EU Member States, in all EU diplomatic representations of official positions to the Government of Laos on political issues.
- Economic: The European Commission is the trade negotiator and trade regulator of the European Union. The Delegation represents the Commission through contact with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders on issues concerning market access, regulatory issues, investment and international trade.
- Cooperation: The Delegation designs and implements EU-Laos development cooperation programmes and is engaged in policy dialogue on all cooperation-related issues with Laos. Starting from 2016, European partners (EU, EU countries and Switzerland) are coordinating more closely on development cooperation through the European Joint Programming (2016-2020), which sets out a common vision, priorities, approach, division of labour and planned spending.
- Information and culture: The Delegation carries out a programme of activities to give the whole of Laos a chance to enjoy a taste of Europe’s democratic values as well as its rich cultural heritage. The Delegation works to create awareness and understanding of the EU in Laos, promotes the Erasmus Mundus scholarship programme and provides information requested from the media and general public.
Who works at the EU Delegations?
EU Delegations' staff comes from a number of different departments of the European External Action Service and the European Commission, local employees who provide valuable expertise on the ground as well as diplomats and experts from EU countries.
