The Treaty on European Union prescribes that the Union will promote its principles and values in international relations. Though the scope of the obligations foreseen by the treaty remains unclear, some aspects are becoming clearer, especially with regard to due diligence and the need for human rights impact assessment. Presently, it is generally recognised that actions with extraterritorial effects will undoubtedly be linked to these principles and values, and more specifically to human rights. This paper provides an analysis from current praxis of the scope of these obligations, including a description of the implications of the Treaty of Lisbon and developments that have taken place since it came into force.
Introduction to the Handbook on Human Rights Impact Assessment: Principles, methods and approaches
