The Ombudsman carried out an initiative to assess how the European Commission ensures respect for human rights in the context of EU trade policy. The initiative aims to examine the use of so-called ‘human rights clauses’ in international trade agreements signed by the EU, as well as to look at how human rights are dealt with once trade agreements have entered into force.

Based on the findings over the course of the initiative, the Ombudsman set out some suggestions to the Commission on additional steps it might take.