The article addresses issues from the broad sphere of relations between intergovernmental international organisations. Against the background of typology taking into account the extent and nature of the representation of the EU and its Member States in various organisations, the article discusses the most important issues connected with the development and nature of the relations between the EC/ EU and FAO after the Community obtained membership in this organisation in 1991. In this context and against the background of the evolution of the relations between the two organisations, the article characterises the status of the EU within FAO and analyses the principles underlying the functioning of the internal system of coordinating the actions of the EU and its Member States with regard to their activity in the FAO, taking into account two periods, namely the period between granting the FAO membership to the EEC in 1991 and the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon as well as the period after the entry into force of the Lisbon reform.