The Delegation of the European Commission to Timor-Leste was opened on 22nd June 2007.

Starting from 1st December 2009 with the Lisbon Treaty entering into force, the Delegation of the European Commission was transformed into the Delegation of the European Union to Timor-Leste.

The Delegation has the status of a diplomatic mission and officially represents the European Union in Timor-Leste.

The institutions of the European Union are the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors.

As described in the Cotonou Agreement, the Delegation's mandate is designed to establish a comprehensive partnership, based on three complementary pillars: development cooperation, economic and trade cooperation, and promotion of a more effective political dimension.