Nazwa
Human rights clause

The Instrument of Human Rights Clause as a Part of Conditionality in European Union–Georgia Relations

The Instrument of Human Rights Clause as a Part of Conditionality in European Union–Georgia Relations

Authors

Pages

85-100

Abstract

Political conditionality became an integral part of the external policy of the European Union (EU) in the early nineties. EU–Georgia relations are no exception to this. The aim of this paper is to provide a brief investigation of the place, significance and function of human rights’ clauses as a part of political conditionality in the legal framework of the EU–Georgia relations. To this end, the paper briefly reviews human rights clauses in international agreements of the EU and analyses the relevant articles in EU–Georgia bilateral documents and autonomous instruments of the EU. Further, some considerations in respect of effectiveness and consistency of human rights are also provided. It is argued that the human rights clause plays a less important role in practice than it would be expected as an “essential element” of agreements concluded by the EU.