Justice and home affairs a key area in the European Union’s relations with third countries and international organisations

Introductory website. An essential component of developing the European Union into an area of freedom, security and justice is its external dimension, which includes cooperating with partner countries and international organisations to construct an area of peace, stability and prosperity encompassing the neighbours of an enlarged European Union. In June 2000, EU leaders unveiled a plan in which were laid out a series of priorities for the external dimension of justice and home affairs.