The EU as a ‘Global Player’ in Human Rights?

The Treaty of Lisbon has endowed the EU with a normative human rights framework thatconfirms recognitionas a fully-fledged regional mechanism for the protection of human rights. The aim of this book is to contribute to the growing discussion of the external human rights dimension of the European Union. Its theme sits at the crossroads between International and EU law, Human Rights, and Political Science. In moving beyond well-covered topics such as the protection of human rights within the EU, or their relevance for the accession of new Member States, this book asks the broader question of whether EU human rights law has any real relevance on a global scale. In total, The EU as a 'Global Player' in Human Rights gives an overview of theinternational relevance of EU human rights law by means of exemplary case-studies of the EU’s institutional and substantive protection of human rights, whilst consideration of non-European perspectives from China and Japan underline its global focus. This book will be of particular interest to researchers, students, and practitioners in International and European law, Human Rights Law, European studies and International Relations.

1. Introduction, Jan Erik Wetzel Part 1:ThePosition of Human RightsWithin the EU Framework 2. Assessing the EU's Position on Human Rights: Is it a Desireable One?,Richard Burchill 3.Monitoring and Enforcing Fundamental Rights: Can the European Union Measure Up Against Other Intrnational Organisations?,Rhona K.M. Smith 4.European Human Rights Law as a Multi-Layered Human Rights Regime: Preserving Diversity and Promoting Human Rights, Marton Varju Part 2:EU Human Rights Policies in Internationl Institutions 5. Inconvenient Multilateralism: The Challenges of the EU as a Player in the United Nations Human Rights Council, GjovalinMacaj and Joachim A. Koops 6. TheEU Commitment to International Criminal Justice: Achievements and Possibilities?, Olympia Bekou and Marck Chadwick 7.Human Rights in Trade: The EU's Experience with Labour Standards Conditionality and its Role in Promoting Labour Standards in the WTO, TamaraTakacs Part 3: The Influence of EU Human Rights Law Outside of Europe 8.Imperialistic Endeavour or Empty Rhetoric? Analysing the EU's Promotion of Human Rights in China Since 1989 through a 'Normative Power' Perspective, Wenwen Shen 9. Too Different to be Relevant? Considering the Global Influence of EU Asylum Laws and Policy wit Respect to Japan, Emiko Nakasaka 10.The Promotion and Protection of Human Rights during Common Security and Defence Policy Operations: In-Between a Spreading State of Mind and an Unsolved Concern, Maria Luisia Sanchez Barrueco Part 4:EUHuman Rights Law as a Regional International Standard 11. The EU Competition Policy as an International Human Rights Issue, Wolfgang Weiß 12.Double Jeopardy in Europe: What Lessons for Global Players?,Dawn Sedman 13.Defining the Free PressL Recent European Case-Law on Political Free Speech, Anti-Terrorism Legislation and the Free Press,Angus Nurse 14. EU Equality Law: From Protecting 'Groups' to Protection of All, Joanne Milner 15. Conclusion, Looking to the Future: No Hubris, No False Modesty,Geoffrey Harris

Jan Erik Wetzel was formerly Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, and now works at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International.