Publication Name
Working Paper
Volume, number, page
12/03
Year of Publication
2012
Organization Name
Instituto Afffari Internazionali
Acronym
IAI
Publisher
IAI
City
Rome
Country of Publication
Italy
Full Date
January 2012
ISBN or ISSN
978-88-98042-40-1
Considered Countries
Nicaragua
Sri-Lanka
India
Category
Academic articles
Theme
BILATERAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Country - European Union
Keyword(s)
European Union
Foreign Policy
Trade
Economic Relations
Human Rights
Democracy
Conditionality
Civil Society
Political Dialogue
Abstract
Through the inclusion of human rights and democracy
clauses in the trade and association agreements of its
common external trade policy, the European Union seeks
to promote and transmit the values of human rights,
democracy, and the rule of law globally. However, trade
partners from the developing world often feel that these
clauses offend their national sovereignty, and sometimes
resort to alternative agreements offered by countries
notorious for cutting corners. This working paper offers an
assessment of the motives for non-compliance and
sketches out how the EU could engender compliance. The
paper concludes that there is a pivotal role to be played by
education, civil society, business, and political parties in
the nexus between economic growth, democracy, and the
respect for human rights. The EU must target these factors
directly, as they largely determine the domestic
enforcement of HR clauses. In addition, the EU should
develop a human rights strategy coordinated with global,
regional, and local actors.
clauses in the trade and association agreements of its
common external trade policy, the European Union seeks
to promote and transmit the values of human rights,
democracy, and the rule of law globally. However, trade
partners from the developing world often feel that these
clauses offend their national sovereignty, and sometimes
resort to alternative agreements offered by countries
notorious for cutting corners. This working paper offers an
assessment of the motives for non-compliance and
sketches out how the EU could engender compliance. The
paper concludes that there is a pivotal role to be played by
education, civil society, business, and political parties in
the nexus between economic growth, democracy, and the
respect for human rights. The EU must target these factors
directly, as they largely determine the domestic
enforcement of HR clauses. In addition, the EU should
develop a human rights strategy coordinated with global,
regional, and local actors.
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