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The Pros And Cons Of The European Union

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Introduction
The European Union (hereinafter EU) can be described as a sui generis international actor, in other words, a global player. The EU has reached international agreements with countries all over the world, its external relations has become widespread. EU’s foreign policy is ideally linked to the concept of importance with compliance with human rights and democracy principles, which means in other words, conditionality policy. EU´s goal is to ensure that human rights are respected everywhere and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an important document in relation with that. Since the early 1990´s the EU has included human rights conditionality clauses in its international agreements, both in international trade agreements …show more content…
The Lisbon Treaty obligates and makes it a legal requirement that the European Union and all of its institutions and bodies protect human rights in their external relations. The EU and the member states are also committed to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights. In addition, the EU is bound by the international agreements it makes with third countries, and is obligated to perform them in good faith. The core principle pacta sunt servanda applies to EU’s international agreements as well as to other agreements. Consequently, should there be a breach of these agreements concerning human rights clauses; there has existed and still exists a clause which allows for parties to take “appropriate measure”. Hence, it is though absolutely vital that the appropriate measures taken do not disturb the agreement.
History shows in EU’s external relations that even though the EU, in previous years, had not made its own “bill of human rights” it has always been an indispensible part of its common policy framework and with due regards to international …show more content…
Article 21 in the Lisbon Treaty is an important Article concerning external relations and it summons up EU as an international actor. In Article 21 it is stipulated that:
• the Union‘s actions on the international scene shall be guided by the principles of which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargelement and which it seeks to advance in the wider world: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. In relation to that the EU shall seek to develop relations and build partnerships with third countries, and international, regional or global organisations which share the principles mentioned in the last

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