Sovereign Military Order of Malta–European Union relations are the Diplomacy, diplomatic relations between the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) and the European Union (EU). They were formally established in 2003 when the SMOM established a representation and office in Brussels, having been in contact with the European Commission since the early 1990s.

Representation and recognition

Unique among Europe's Religious order, religious orders, SMOM representation is recognised as a diplomatic entity solely by the Commission and not the EU's Institutions of the European Union, other institutions or Member state of the European Union, member states. This arrangement was formalised in 2007, when the EU's Holy See-European Union relations, Delegation to the Holy See, established in 2006, had its remit extended to cover the SMOM.

Cooperation

The SMOM has declared the intention of its Multilateralism, multilateral relations, such as those with the EU, to promote humanitarian values including "human rights, healthcare [and] food security". Similarly, the EU perceives its diplomacy with the SMOM to be valuable "in the fields of emergency relief, medical care, [the] fight against poverty and famine, and special assistance to people affected by conflicts". From 6 March 2012, the two parties have further collaborated to strategise the protection of "sacred places" in the Mediterranean Basin, Mediterranean, assisted by the European Political Strategy Centre, Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA).

References

Foreign relations of the European Union Foreign relations of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta European Union and the Catholic Church {{Malta-stub

Representation and recognition

Cooperation

See also

References