The European Union has no legal capacity to recognize or to refuse to recognize States. However, the broad array of instruments contributing to the diversity and scope of its external action singles it out within the highly varied category of international organizations. The changing degree of mobilization of its different instruments depending on the geographical proximity of the contested entity, on political considerations such as the power of the third States supporting the contested entity, or on past experience reveals that the EU modulates its interventions in accordance with its own interests to the extent they are compatible with its Member States’ interests. Framed by the EU’s principles and objectives of external action as laid down by Article 21 TEU, foremost among which is respect for international law, such mobilization of its external action instruments enables it to support certain contested entities in their state-building process, as well as to help to prevent the unlawful emergence of new entities and so work towards non-recognition of their statehood.