EU political conditionality as a tool for the promotion and protection of non-trade values in non-EU countries

Abstract

Conditionality has different meanings in different situations. Conditionality is applied in different policy areas such as lending or investment programmes, trade agreements and development cooperation aid. In international economic relations, for example, it indicates a performance-based aid allocation by international organizations such as the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In this financial and economic context, conditionality requires governments seeking aid to agree to economic policy adjustments defined by the donors. Conditionality can also refer to the process of tying aid to a specific use or it can describe projects and programmes aimed at supporting democracy or human rights protection.