8 THE ITALIAN LAW JOURNAL NO. 1 (2022)
The Brussels Effect of the European Union’s External Action: Promoting Rule of Law Abroad Through Sanctions and Conditionality
by Matteo Di Donato This paper provides an analysis on the promotion of European law through the external action of the European Union. Starting from Arts 3(5) and 21 Treaty of the European Union (TEU), the research focuses on the instruments and techniques used by the Union to enact its policies. In particular, it tries to demonstrate how different means can provide extraterritorial effects and spread European principles to third countries all over the world. The article focuses on the specific fields of human rights and Rule of Law and takes into account restrictive sanctions – adopted under Art 215 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) – and trade, cooperation and association agreements – based on Arts 216, 217 and 218 TFUE – highlighting how this kind of instruments can influence the promotion of Rule of Law abroad. DOI 10.23815/2421-2156.ITALJ ISSN 2421-2156
