Prior to the political reforms of 1990, the relations between the EU and Mongolia were extremely limited.  Since then, relations have been developing steadily. The first EU mission visited Ulaanbaatar in October 1990 to open discussions on cooperation and the possibility of concluding a trade and cooperation agreement. In January 1991, Mongolia entered the EU's GSP arrangement, and in February the same year, a high-level Mongolian delegation visited Brussels.  The EU Delegate in Beijing was accredited in Ulaanbaatar in  May  1991,  while the Mongolian ambassador to the  EU presented his credentials in November 1992. The dialogue between the European Community and Mongolia intensified during 1995 and included a visit to Brussels by President Ochirbat Punsalmaa.

On 1 November 2017, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Union and its Member States and Mongolia entered into force. Replacing the 1993 Agreement on trade and economic cooperation, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement strengthens the existing relationship between the EU and its Member States and Mongolia, consolidates existing areas of cooperation and engagement, and deepens and diversifies relations further in areas of mutual interest. The entry into force of the PCA coincided with the establishment of the EU Delegation in Mongolia, for which implementing the Agreement will be a top priority. The Agreement provides the legal framework for expanding EU-Mongolia relations and covers issues such as political dialogue, trade, development assistance, cooperation in the field of agriculture and rural development, energy, climate change, research and innovation, education and culture.

On 29 May 2018, the EU Ambassador to Mongolia H.E. Mr. Traian Laurentiu Hristea presented the credential to the President of Mongolia H.E. Mr. Battulga Khaltmaa.

On 12-13 November 2019, Commissioner Mr. Neven Mimica, responsible for International Cooperation and Development, paid an official visit to Mongolia, where he met political leaders of Mongolia, including President Mr Battulga Khaltmaa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Tsogtbaatar Damdin, Minister of Finance Khurelbaatar Chimed and Minister of Labour and Social Protection Mr Chinzorig Sodnom. The inauguration ceremony of the EU Delegation premises took place during his visit.

In 2019, the EU and Mongolia celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. On this occasion, the Delegation of the European Union to Mongolia hosted the EU day Mongolia on May 26 at the Sukhbaatar square. Present at the event which was organized for the first time, were the Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia Traian Laurentiu Hristea, Ambassadors and diplomats of 15 EU member states to Mongolia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs B.Battsetseg and Governor of the capital city and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar S.Amarsaikhan. The event provided the public with an opportunity to get to know the EU member states through their tradition and culture, receive detailed information and advice on studying and travelling in the countries and getting Schengen visa, visit a trade fair of EU countries' entities, as well as to enjoy the countries’ cuisine and art performances. Moreover, during the event, information was given on over 20 EU-funded projects being implemented in Mongolia.

• Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Mongolia, of the other part, 2012.
• Factsheet on the EU-Mongolia Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation
• Summary of the Treaty.
• Ratification details.
• EU-Mongolia Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation
• (Resolution).

Information on Mongolia: EU report on GSP+ for 2018-2019

Information on Statistics about EU-Mongolia Trade in goods: Statistics

Information on EU trade related issues.

Information on GSP+ related issues.

Information on the International Labour Organisation project.

Mongolia and the EBRD.

Development assistance is an important pillar of EU-Mongolia relations. It supports the Mongolian government and Mongolia's civil society, with the ultimate objective of eradicating poverty while enhancing sustainable development, including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Bilateral relations between the European Union and Mongolia, including development cooperation, started in 1996 with the EC-Mongolia Cooperation Agreement of 1996. Since then, development cooperation has always increased through successive support:

• 2002- 2006 TACIS National Indicative Programme for Mongolia – EUR 15 million
• 2007 – 2013 DCI Country Strategy Paper – EUR 29 million
• 2014 – 2020 Multi Indicative Programme – EUR 65 million.

The Multi Indicative Programme 2014 – 2020 

With this ongoing Programme, the EU aims to assist Mongolia towards further stabilising its democratic system and promoting sustainable development and economic diversification in order for the country to fulfil its ambition of becoming a middle-income country (MIC) by 2021 while successively adapting to relevant European norms and standards. In the light of the mineral wealth of the country and its economic overdependence on the mining sector, the EU focuses its assistance on 2 focal sectors:

Focal Area 1: Improved governance of revenues for inclusive and sustainable growth;

Focal Area 2: Support for better employment opportunities, by creating skilled jobs and decent work outside the mining sector.

From this MIP, a new project "Support to Employment Creation in Mongolia" (SECiM, EUR 8.2 million) has already been mobilised and is under implementation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.

Multi Indicative Programme 2014-2020 for EU Development assistance.

Other funding sources

There are other budget lines and programmes which complete the national bilateral assistance:

• The EU supports the regional integration of Mongolia and its trade facilitation with an additional EUR 4.5 million (TRAM), through the regional Envelope (Asia);
• Support through the Asian Investment Facility (AIF) is offered for facilitating the Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with a grant of EUR 9.7 million to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will provide loans to local commercial banks and SMEs amounting up to EUR 100 million.

Engagement with the civil society besides bilateral cooperation

Other EU budget lines fund 9 other projects directed to the Civil Society Organisations for a total amount of EUR 7.9 million. It concerns the following thematic budget lines:

• European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR);
• Support to Civil Society Organizations and Local Authorities (CSO-LA);
• Sustainable production and Consumption practices, through the programme called SWITCH-Asia.

More detailed information about EU-Mongolia cooperation in 2020 and EU Funded projects in Mongolia.

Research and innovation collaboration forms an integral part of the EU-Mongolia partnership. European and Mongolian scientists have already worked together on a number of issues of common interest and mutual benefit through previous European Framework Programmes. Mongolian institutions and individuals have been in the past and continue to be in the future eligible to participate in numerous EU programmes in higher education and research.

Europe as Mongolia's excellent partner

Europe is a key partner in science, technology and innovation. The European Union (EU) is one of the leading regions of the world in Research, Innovation and Science. The EU is today the main knowledge production centre worldwide, accounting for almost a third of the world’s science and technology production. At the same time, the European Union is responsible for 24% of world expenditure on research, 32% of high impact publications and 32% of patent applications, while representing only 7% of the world population.

HORIZON 2020 – The EU's Funding Programme for Research and Innovation

Horizon 2020, the EU's framework programme for research and innovation will run from 2014 to 2020 with a budget of nearly EUR 80 billion. Horizon 2020 – which is fully open to international cooperation – is the biggest EU research and innovation programme ever. It will lead to more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. Horizon 2020 is based on 3 pillars: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges. It offers funding for collaborative research, individual researcher mobility and training, research infrastructures and many more.

How can Mongolian participants apply?

Horizon 2020 is fully open to Mongolian participation in all fields and areas. This programme is open to the participation of universities and research institutes, companies, and other institutions.

• Mongolian participation is encouraged in ALL Calls for Proposals of Horizon 2020.
• The best Mongolian teams and individual researchers can connect with Europe’s excellence in research and innovation.
• Mongolia can gain access to Europe's knowledge, access to data, access to infrastructures and access to world-leading scientific networks.

Mongolian Researchers, enterprises and institutions are strongly encouraged to team up with their European partners to make the best use of Europe’s excellent opportunities in research and innovation. Mongolian research and innovation stakeholders are invited to either become partners in collaborative research projects or to apply to fellowship grants and mobility schemes provided by the European Research Council and Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Actions.

Overall, the new international cooperation strategy of Horizon 2020 focuses on research in areas of common interest and mutual benefit.

How to apply?

The first Work Programmes 2016/2017 and 173 Calls for Proposals HORIZON 2020 are expected to be published or even have been already launched. Researchers and innovators from Mongolia are fully eligible to participate in any research projects with EU partners and to receive funding from Horizon 2020.

Find a suitable Call for Proposals

Find project partners -  on CORDIS or using National Contact Point in Mongolia (Mongolian Academy of Sciences)

• Create an account on the Participant Portal and register your organisation.
• Prepare your project proposal, when appropriate with your partners.
• Submit your project proposal to the European Commission.
• Evaluation by external independent experts.
• Signature of the Grant Agreement.

National Contact Point

The National Contact Point for Horizon 2020 was set up in the Mongolian Academy of Sciences in March 2014. The National Contact Point is a national structure established to give personalised support on the spot and in applicants' language. This would help Mongolian applicants to succeed in their applications, increasing the number of joint projects.

Erasmus +

Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020. Erasmus+ funds academic mobility and cooperation projects that involve partners from "Programme Countries" and "Partner Countries" throughout the world.