U.S.-EU Cooperation on Human Rights

The United States and the European Union (EU) are two of the strongest supporters of promoting human rights and democracy worldwide. During biannual Human Rights Consultations, senior-level officials meet to discuss a range of domestic and global issues and to develop strategies to promote human rights together and through multilateral fora. On a regular basis, officials work together to support key UN resolutions that reflect internationally accepted human rights standards and democratic principles, such as resolutions highlighting the human rights situations in Belarus and Turkmenistan. The U.S. has also regularly co-sponsored EU resolutions on North Korea and Burma.

The U.S. works closely with the EU and Member States in third countries to promote human rights and democracy through our respective diplomacy and bilateral assistance programs in these areas. Consulting on human rights issues and sharing best practices to promote human rights is a key component of our relationship. One area of joint concern regards efforts to support human rights defenders around the world.

The U.S. and all of the EU Member States work together to promote and defend democratic values and institutions at the national, regional and global levels. We believe that working together, democracies can help advance rule of law norms internationally and can better establish human rights standards.