In the 21st century, Europe will face new and unprecedented challenges, from tackling climate change, to fighting international terrorism and sustaining growth and jobs in the face of changing global economic conditions.

A confident, outward-looking European Union has the opportunity to become a genuinely global player, benefiting from the opportunities of globalisation and setting a new agenda that emphasises openness, fairness and the importance of cooperation between nations.

The Lisbon Treaty sets the framework to ensure that an EU of 27 or more Member States can function effeectively. The EU now has a chance to look up from the detail of its own Treaties and out to the wider world, and to focus on the real issues that matter to people in the Member States – competitiveness, jobs, the environment and security.

The conclusions of the European Council in December 2007 outlined the EU's priorities in a Globalisation Declaration.

To read more about the UK's vision for the EU, see Global Europe - Meeting the economic and Security Challenges.