A strong and coherent international S&T policy is of utmost importance to enhance EU’s competitiveness and leadership. This goal is pursued through two interdependent objectives:

• to support and promote European competitiveness through strategic research partnerships with third countries (ICPC - International Cooperation Partner Countries)including highly industrialized and emerging economies in science and technology by engaging the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe
  
  
• to address specific problems of regional (EU/ICPC) or global character, on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual interest

•  EU-Candidate Countries
• Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC)
• Western Balkan Countries (WBC)
• Eastern European and Central Asian countries (EECA)
• Developing Countries
• Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)
• Asia
• Latin America
• Emerging Economies
• Industrialized Countries