International Humanitarian Law (IHL), also known as the Law of Armed Conflict or the Law of War – alleviates the effects of armed conflict by regulating the means and methods of warfare, including tactics and weaponry. The EU has both a political and humanitarian interest in improving compliance with International Humanitarian Law across the world.

The EU guidelines on IHL, adopted in 2005 and updated four years later, set out the means that the EU may use to promote IHL in its relations with non-EU countries. These include political dialogue, public statements, demarches, training and restrictive measures such as sanctions.

The guidelines also emphasise the importance of ensuring that there is no impunity for war crimes. The EU seeks to prevent impunity by encouraging countries to enact national penal legislation and punish violations of IHL.