European Union external trade and human rights abroad

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore and problematize the legal framework that protects human rights in third States within the context of EU external trade. The main objectives were to analyse the legal framework governing the Common Commercial Policy of the European Union and the instruments that are employed in the context of external trade, as well as the case-law of the Court of Justice pertaining to issues of external trade and human rights in third States. The results of the analysis indicate that although the European Union has used various instruments within its trade policy to ensure respect for human rights abroad, their enforcement is problematic and the European Union’s obligations towards individuals in third States is unclear.