ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses the extent to which the EU has been inspired by a human security approach in using restrictive measures. The chapter shows that the use of EU sanctions has been partially adapted to meet the challenges posed by human security concerns, but specific steps need to be made in order to further improve the situation. This conclusion was reached by examining EU sanctions practices through two principles of a human security approach: human rights and bottom-up. Human rights concerns refer to the negative consequences of sanctions on innocent civilians, and bottom-up regards the consideration of local communities and actors when the EU decides to resort to restrictive measures. The contribution suggests that stronger institutional capacities at the EU level combined with a well-tailored strategy that takes seriously local actors would contribute to better alignment of EU sanctions with a second-generation human security strategy towards conflict.
