Values, rights, and changing interests: The EU’s response to the war against Ukraine and the responsibility to protect Europeans

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has taken dozens decisions, on which agreement had hitherto been unthinkable due to differences between member states. A norms-based approach is used better understand EU’s unexpected two key measures: sanctions packages against Russia and decision allow Ukrainian nationals right live work in EU. Congruence among states over responsibility protect civilians from atrocity crimes war played an important role, including obligations react (sanctions) prevent (refugee protection). actions arising moral based rights-based norms have linked closely values-based pertaining solidarity, identity, ethical vis-à-vis fellow Europeans. These preliminary findings matter as they suggest inextricable linkage trigger effects foreign policy.