The EU's Conditionality Policy: A New Strategy to Achieve Compliance.
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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