Citizen Rights in a Critical Juncture: Comparing the EU and ASEAN Legal Response in the time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The article's primary objective is to explore and compare the legalinstrument adopted by regional organisations, specifically the EU and ASEAN,to impose restrictions on free movement rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic.This article uses hard and soft law classifications to denote the great number oftypes and forms of legal instruments. Furthermore, this article aims to explainthe pattern of regional organisations adopting legal tools to govern restrictionson free movement rights. Legal research methodologies analyse legalinstruments from the EU and ASEAN's official legal databases with doctrinaland comparative perspectives. The study's findings revealed two distinct trendsof adopting various types of legal instruments by the EU and ASEAN.Additionally, the choice of this type of legal instrument has ramifications forguaranteeing the practical application of citizen rights, particularly the right tofreedom of movement.