Human Rights

Prioritising human rights in EU policy

The European Union upholds its founding principles of liberty, democracy, and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law in its external relations. This subcommittee assists the Committee on Foreign Affairs in promoting democratic values, human rights, and the protection of minorities in third countries within and outside Europe.

Promoting human rights

The subcommittee monitors the human rights dialogues and consultations that the EU has established with third countries. To ensure that human rights remain at the forefront of EU policy, the subcommittee conducts yearly on-site visits to monitor the human rights situation and engage with various stakeholders.

Since 1988, the European Parliament has awarded the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to recognize the efforts of individuals or groups in promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms and fighting oppression and injustice. The EPP Group takes pride in nominating several prizewinners, including the Democratic Opposition in Venezuela, Cuban dissidents, representatives in Belarus, and advocates of the Arab Spring, and the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny over the past 30 years of the prize's history.