16 July 2012 – IOM, the European Commission (EC) services and the European External Action Service (EEAS) formally strengthened their partnership on 13 July in an exchange of letters. Building on a shared interest in bringing the benefits of well managed international migration to migrants and governments, the IOM-EU letters lay out a framework for a strategic partnership that will serve as a basis for the further exchanges, development and structuring of the relationship between IOM and the EU.