EU Action plan on human rights and democracy (2020-2027) - between objectives and outcomes

Tintor Ljubomir (Institut za uporedno pravo, Beograd), lj.tintor@iup.ac.rs

The article analyses the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020–2027) in the context of the evolution of the European Union (EU) as a normative force in international relations. It starts from the thesis that the EU has transformed its foreign policy over time from a predominantly economically oriented project to a values‐based actor in which human rights occupy a central place. Particular attention is paid to the normative and institutional framework of the Action Plan and its key objectives and new priorities, including digital rights, climate change, and strengthening democratic resilience. The paper suggests that the Action Plan represents a significant attempt to integrate human rights into all segments of the EU’s external action but also that its soft‐law legal nature and complex institutional structure limit its effectiveness. In particular, it highlights the gap between normative ambitions and practical implementation, which stems from political differences among member states and competing geopolitical interests. It concludes that the Action Plan strengthens the EU’s normative framework but that its transformative potential depends on consistent implementation and institutional coherence.

Keywords: human rights, democracy, European Union, Republic of Serbia, European integration