The European Union has a set of instruments to promote peace and counter fragility and crisis outside of its territory. This document gives a brief overview of these instruments and how they are deployed. It summarises the principal political bodies involved in policy formulation, decision-making and operationalising the EU’s engagement in this sector. In order illustrate the application of these instruments, the document provides a country example. It concludes with an analytical note on the EU’s limitations when it comes to steering its responses to fragility and crisis situations.