ABSTRACT
Introduction In this chapter relations between two intergovernmental international organisations, the Commonwealth and the European Union (EU) are discussed. One possibility is that they co-operate by mutual agreement on common projects, sharing responsibility for planning, management and financing. Another is that the one organisation takes the lead in joint projects and the other has a useful but complementary role. A first impression, to be explored later, is that the latter is likely to be the case with the Commonwealth and the EU. The two organisations could not be regarded as equal partners in setting up, managing and financing projects, as the EU is vastly bigger and richer than the Commonwealth. But they have intersecting agendas, and the Commonwealth’s input is valuable from various points of view. They are both involved in a large number of projects over the five continents though there is a differentiation of roles.
