This article explores the role and place of national human rights institutions in the external policies of the European Union and analyses some trends in their interactions. We demonstrate an evolution of the EU human rights policy in relations with third countries within the frameworks of the EU development policy and the European Neighbourhood Policy. Particular attention is given to the evaluation of the involvement of national human rights institutions in these relations. Based on a comparative analysis of various EU legal acts regulating EU external relations in the human rights domain, the article concludes that EU policies in this sphere have been gradually diversified and that there is a signifi- cant variance in the degree of interaction between the EU and national human rights institutions in different countries and regions.
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