ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the general European Union (EU) development and human rights policy as it emerged so far. A primary requirement for any potentially successful human rights policy is that of taking a position on human rights issues whenever pertinent and as consistently as possible. The combination in the listing of human rights matters with issues in the sphere of drugs, money laundering, and trade and market access vividly illustrates the diversity of objectives which the Generalised System of Preferences scheme is supposed to serve. In addition to the need for consistency and coordination among the EU member states in position-taking on human rights and democracy matters and their impact on development, these should also occur between the EU member states, the EU Council of Ministers and the Commission. The chapter shows that human rights have become part and parcel of the development cooperation policy of the European Union.
