The European Union

The EU is committed to the defence of human rights and democracy both within its 27 member countries and in its external relations.  It works to ensure that member states comply with the high standards of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms set out in the EU’s founding treaties.  It monitors whether aspiring accession states adhere to these standards, which are pre-requisites for becoming members of the EU.  And as the world’s largest aid donor and a global economic actor of central importance, the EU is well placed to use its collective weight to promote respect for human rights and democracy across the globe.