In recent years, the European Union (EU) has been working to include human rights and sustainable development obligations in its free trade agreements in order to promote fair and ethical trade practices. One example of this is the Bartels report, which outlines the EU`s approach to incorporating human rights and sustainable development into its free trade agreements.

The Bartels report was commissioned by the European Parliament in 2015, with the aim of providing guidance on how to ensure that EU free trade agreements promote human rights and sustainable development. The report was authored by Professor Lorand Bartels, a trade law expert at the University of Cambridge.

One of the key recommendations of the Bartels report is that EU free trade agreements should include binding commitments on human rights and sustainable development. These commitments should be enforceable through the dispute settlement mechanisms set out in the agreement, and should be subject to independent monitoring and reporting.

In terms of human rights, the Bartels report identifies a number of areas that EU free trade agreements should address, including labor rights, environmental protection, and human rights more broadly. For example, the report recommends that EU free trade agreements should include provisions on freedom of association, collective bargaining, and non-discrimination, as well as on child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking.

When it comes to sustainable development, the Bartels report emphasizes the importance of environmental protection, as well as social and economic development. The report recommends that EU free trade agreements should include provisions on environmental standards, sustainable resource management, and the promotion of green technologies and renewable energy.

Another key recommendation of the Bartels report is that EU free trade agreements should be subject to human rights and sustainability impact assessments. These assessments would evaluate the potential impacts of the agreement on human rights and sustainable development, and would be conducted before the agreement is signed.

Overall, the Bartels report highlights the EU`s commitment to promoting fair and ethical trade practices, and to ensuring that its free trade agreements promote human rights and sustainable development. By incorporating binding commitments on these issues, as well as by conducting impact assessments and monitoring compliance, the EU is taking important steps towards creating a more just and sustainable global economy.