In the past year，the EU’s external relations were compounded by the combined effects stemming from the worsening global financial crisis，the deteriorating security situation in Eastern Europe caused by Russian-Georgian Conflict，the assumption of power by the American Democratic Party and the rise of emerging economies. In this context，the principal characteristics of the EU’s external relations display themselves as follows. First of all，the EU attempted to raise its status in the Atlantic Alliance by taking advantage of the global financial crisis. Secondly，the EU prudently dealt with the issue of Eastern Europe and tried to ease EU-Russia relations. Thirdly，the EU actively promoted the reform of global financial system in order to cope with the crisis and to improve the EU’s international influence. Fourthly，the protectionist tendency became evident in the EU. And fifthly，the EU competed with the US for the leading position in the agenda in response to the climate change. As for the EU-US relations，it provided an opportunity to rapidly warm up the bilateral relations as Obama came into power. With regard to the EU-Russia relations，the EU was reluctant to infuriate Russia on both the issues of the Russian-Georgian Conflict and of energy，which forced the EU to keep a cautious and moderate attitude towards Russia.