In view of the global nature of the systems, it is essential that the Union enter into agreements with third countries and international organisations in the context of the Galileo and EGNOS programmes under Article 218 TFEU, in particular to ensure their smooth implementation, deal with certain questions relating to security and charging, optimise the services provided to citizens of the Union and meet the needs of third countries and international organisations.

European Union helps reshape international assistance at the World Humanitarian Summit // Brussels, 20 May 2016

This Regulation provides for Union procedures in the field of the common commercial policy in order to ensure the exercise of the Union’s rights under international trade rules, in particular those established under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (‘WTO’) which, subject to compliance with existing international obligations and procedures, aim to:

whereas the leading role of the European Union in the international fight against global warming and its particular responsibility as a union of developed countries contribute to its sense of identity and imply an obligation, vis-à-vis the citizens of Europe, not only to formulate medium- and long-term climate objectives but to achieve those objectives through forward-looking political measures, as well as through political dialogue with developing countries,

Justice and Home Affairs Start-up of Schengen Information System (SIS II) and the Visa Information System (VIS) including biometrics and the related Council Decision on the lifting of controls at the borders with and between the new Member States Initiatives on protection of witnesses and individuals who cooperate with the judicial process in the fight against international organised crime export/import licensing system for firearms Communications on the transparency of legal entities to reduce vulnerability to infiltration by organised crime the fight against illicit cross-border trafficking in restricted or prohibited goods the promoti ...[+++]on of intelligence-led law enforcement activities across the Union Health and Safety Start-up phase of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) services on land use monitoring, crisis management and ocean monitoring Develop a Community framework for safe, high quality and efficient health services, by reinforcing cooperation between Member States and providing clarity and certainty over the application of Community law to health services and healthcare Strengthen and simplify European structures to respond to health threats, notably through the creation of a high level European network of flu officials New EU Animal Health Strategy, which will include a policy of disease prevention, improve the coherence with other EU policies, and make better use of financial resources |

It is used not just in the EU to measure disparities between regions and to identify those which warrant assistance from the Structural Funds, but by other international institutions (UN, World Bank, IMF, OECD and so on), national governments, central banks and research institutes for similar assessments of economic development.