Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the European Union and Mongolia, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, wrote a letter to Mongolian Foreign Minister Tsogtbaatar Damdin.
In the letter she highlighted that over the past 30 years the bilateral partnership between the EU and Mongolia has grown stronger, founded on a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Recent steps forward include the entry into force of the EU-Mongolia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, and the opening of the EU Delegation in Ulaanbaatar – both in 2017. The quality and scope of the bilateral cooperation have expanded considerably, now covering trade, human rights, development cooperation, climate change, people-to-people links, and many other areas of mutual interest.
The High Representative further underlined that economic relations have intensified: the European Union is now Mongolia's third-largest trading partner, despite the distance between them, with Mongolia benefitting from preferential access to the EU market under the GSP+ scheme.
The European Union shares Mongolia's interest in closer bilateral ties, and has been a committed partner in Mongolia's democratic development and modernisation since the 1990s, supporting institutional reforms, and efforts to diversify the economy and to promote more equitable growth. More than anything, the common thread of increased cooperation over the past 30 years has been to improve the lives of our respective citizens and to create more opportunities for them. This is why the EU and Mongolia have strengthened their cooperation and why they will continue to do so.
Milestones of the EU-Mongolia relations
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1989 |
Establishment of diplomatic relations between the European Community and Mongolia |
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1992 |
Trade and Cooperation Agreement signed in Luxembourg on 16 June (enters into force in March 1993) |
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Commissioner F. Andriessen pays an official visit to Mongolia. |
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Prime Minister of Mongolia D.Byambasuren visits Brussels |
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1993 |
Trade and Cooperation Agreement enters into force. First meeting of the Joint Committee in Ulaanbaatar |
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Speaker of the Mongolian Parliament N.Bagabandi visits Brussels |
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1994 |
Mongolia becomes eligible for TACIS Programme (Technical Assistance to Community of Independent States and Mongolia) |
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1995 |
President of Mongolia P. Ochirbat visits Brussels |
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1996 |
External Relations commissioner Hans Van den Broek visits Mongolia, first visit of a Commissioner |
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The European Commission approves the 1996 TACIS Democracy Programme in favour of the New Independent States (NIS) and Mongolia |
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2001 |
Mongolia's Prime Minister N. Enkhbayar visits Brussels |
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The European Commission adopts first Country Strategy Paper which outlines the priorities for EC cooperation with Mongolia |
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The President of the Mongolian Parliament S. Tumur-Ochir visits Brussels |
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2003 |
European Commission sponsors 5th International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in Ulaanbaatar |
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European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, P. Nielson, visits Mongolia |
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2005 |
Mongolian Prime Minister Ts. Elbegdorj meets Commissioner Figel in Brussels |
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Mongolia enjoys duty-free access to the EU market for practically all of its products under the new General System of Preferences (GSP+) |
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2006 |
June 9th EC-Mongolia Joint Committee meeting and first-ever EU-Troika visit to Mongolia |
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First ever EU-Troika visit (EU Presidency, Commission and Council Secretariat) to Mongolia |
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The European Commission opens a Technical Office in Ulaanbaatar |
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2007 |
New Country Strategy Paper 2007-2013 finalised with a focus on rural development. |
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2009 |
EU signs civil aviation agreement with Mongolia |
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2013 |
HRVP Ashton first visit to Mongolia, signature the European Union's Partnership and Cooperation agreement with Mongolia |
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European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloș visits Mongolia |
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First visit of a President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso, to Mongolia |
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2014 |
European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, |
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Androulla Vassiliou, pays an official visit to Mongolia |
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2016 |
Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis visits Mongolia in the framework of ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting |
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President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, HRVP Federica Mogherini visit Mongolia in the framework of ASEM Summit |
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2017 |
EU-Mongolia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement enters in force |
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European Union Establishes a Delegation in Ulaanbaatar (November) |
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2018 |
First-ever resident EU Ambassador to Mongolia presents credential to the President of Mongolia |