In the mid-1990s, the EU adopted a general policy of including human rights clauses in all of its
international trade agreements. Through these human rights clauses, in addition to other tools such
as Human Rights Dialogue and sanctions, the EU seeks to promote the protection of human rights in its
external relations. There are, however, some issues arising regarding the content, use, implementation
and activation of these clauses. Not only do human rights clauses in different agreements vary in wording
and scope, but also the actual implementation and enforcement by the EU differ from case to case, raising
questions as to the selective character and the consistency of the EU’s action and, consequently, as to
the EU’s credibility as a normative international actor. The main deficiencies in this regard are the
selective and at times inconsistent inclusion and activation of human rights clauses, as shown by an
examination of the EU’s agreements and their implementation and enforcement in practice. This article
examines human rights clauses in the EU’s international trade agreements and the implementation and
enforcement thereof, in order to shed light on the promises and pitfalls of the EU’s human rights efforts
