Human Rights in EU Trade Agreements
ASSEDEL is pleased to invite you to the panel discussion “Human Rights in EU trade agreements”, which will take place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on January 20, from 10:00 to 11:30 am in room WEISS S3.6.
Human rights are a foundational value of the European Union and a key element of its external action, including trade policy. This event explores how the EU integrates human rights and democratic principles into its trade agreements, with particular attention to contested regions such as Western Sahara. Through a legal, ethical, and policy-focused discussion, the panel will examine the tensions between economic interests and human rights obligations, and assess what these challenges reveal about the EU’s approach to responsible and value-based trade governance. The discussion will be structured around four main pillars:
Legal and normative foundations: assessing the role and effectiveness of human rights clauses in trade agreements.
Enforcement and double standards: exploring why human rights clauses are often not enforced, the existence of double standards linked to geopolitical interests, and the use of trade measures as political leverage.
Case study – EU–Morocco trade agreement and Western Sahara: examining relevant rulings of the EU Court of Justice and the issue of consent of the Saharawi people.
Closing discussion – the future of ethical trade: questioning whether ethical and value-based trade is a realistic objective or primarily a rhetorical commitment.
Host: ASSEDEL
Co-Host and Speaker: MEP Catarina VIEIRA, Member of INTA and DROI Committee, The Greens / European Free Alliance Group
Speakers:
Professor Alan HERVÉ, Professor of public, economic, and European law (Sciences Po)
MEP Lynn BOYLAN, Member of INTA Committee, The Left Group
Omar Mansour, Sahrawi Representative, Responsible for Europe and European institutions
Hélionor de Anzizu, Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Event details:
📍 European Parliament, Strasbourg
🏢 Room S3.6, Louise Weiss Building
📆 January 20, 2026
🕒 10:00 - 11:30
⌛🔗 Registration open until 8 January or until all places are filled.
Here are some practical instructions to ensure smooth access to the event. We kindly ask that you follow them and reach out in case you have any questions.
Time: Please ensure you arrive by 9.00 (9 AM) on January 20th, as security checks take time, and it is necessary to arrive in advance. The event begins at 10.00 (10 AM).
Location: The event will be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in the Louise Weiss building, Room S3.6 The meeting point is at the main visitors' entrance at 1 All. du Printemps.
Security: A valid document used for your registration must be presented upon entry. Please ensure you bring it with you.
We appreciate your cooperation and encourage you to contact us in case you have any questions.
We look forward to welcoming you!
ASSEDEL (Association Européenne pour la Défense des Droits et des Libertés) is a non-governmental organization based in Strasbourg, founded in 2020. Our mission is to promote, defend, and disseminate human rights and fundamental freedoms in the spirit of the European Convention on Human Rights, both within the Council of Europe system and at local, national, and international levels. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube!