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European Union Releases ‘Human Rights and Democracy in the World’ Report
May 17, 2010 | Printer Friendly

The European Union (EU) has released “Human Rights and Democracy in the World,” a report detailing EU action on human rights and democracy promotion from 2008-2009.  The report, according to Vice-President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, is a response to a “growing desire among EU residents to see the union do more to promote and defend human rights throughout the world.”  The report also builds on the “Council Conclusions on Democracy Support in the EU’s External Relations,” a document released by the EU last November that declared the need to intensify the union’s efforts to promote democracy within international organizations and highlighted the need to increase cooperation within the Community of Democracies, among others.

According to the report, the EU’s commitment to human rights and democracy promotion reflects both the values of “human dignity, freedom, democracy and equality” upon which the union was founded, and the common national interests of its member states.  “Spreading good governance, supporting social and political reform, dealing with corruption and abuse of power, establishing the rule of law and protecting human rights are the best means of strengthening the international order,” the report says.

The report touts the positive impact the EU and its partners have had on the development of human rights and democracy not just in Europe, but throughout the world.  “Every year…the EU accounts for more than half of development assistance worldwide, worth € 50 billion,” the report says. The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) provides the basis for much of the EU’s cooperation with non-member states, and encourages democratization and liberal reform on a global level.  As a result of the ENP, countries like Egypt, Israel, Georgia and Morocco have negotiated bilateral agreements with the EU to implement democratic reforms and improve human rights conditions.

Civil society groups, a “main plank” of the EU’s effort to cultivate democracy, are consulted before and after the ENP negotiations and are an essential part of the EU’s democracy and human rights promotion programs overall.  The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), for example, is an “independent EU financing tool aimed at supporting democracy and the rule of law and promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide” by funding local and international civil society groups. The EIDHR is designed to complement the EU’s bilateral development cooperation, which primarily supports government development programs.

To read the full report, click here.