B. EU EXTERNAL (TRADE) RELATIONS AND CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES – ON A COLLISION COURSE?

In this research cluster, TREUP researchers examined the tensions between the EU’s external trade policy and its relations to its neighbours with its constitutional value base, exploring this theme in multiple dimensions, namely: a) options for accommodating seemingly conflicting interests and goals, b) tensions between the EU (external) economic policy and its constitutional value base; and c) the way in which the EU can exert influence at a global levels. Therefore, this research had a constitutional dimension in that it sought to investigate how EU’s external trade policy collides or converges with its constitutional values such as protection of human rights (including labour rights) and the goal of promoting sustainable development. The research combined a normative constitutional and an empirical observant perspective, which offered new and exciting research designs into this field, as well as opportunities to create sustainable interdisciplinary research groups.

Two research seminars were organised in the context of this thematic cluster:

  • The research seminar “The EU and Wider Europe – Still a Force for Europeanisation?”(3 November 2017) focused on the factors that mediate EU’s “Europeanization” impact and the extent to which current policy mechanisms have the capacity to deliver the norm diffusion required by EU. More particularly, this seminar generated a lively discussion on the extent to which the EU is able to promote effectively its norms and constitutional values in neighbouring countries; the effectiveness of current mechanisms and strategies for promoting core EU values (e.g. rule of law, human rights, democracy) and the future prospects for Europeanisation. (A report of this seminar can be found here)

Researchers participating in this activity included:

Professor Dagmar Schiek
Professor David Phinnemore
Dr Timofey Agarin

  • The research seminar “Sustainable development in Trade Agreements: EU and Post-Brexit UK Perspectives” (11 October 2017) focused on a key feature of the new generation of DCFTAs; that is, the presence of sustainable development chapters, which promote the adoption of minimum labour standards as well as the ratification of various multilateral environmental agreements. More particularly, the seminar examined the rationale behind the provisions on labour and environmental standards in EU DCFTAs, their implementation, as well as exploring the tensions between trade liberalisation and sustainable development objectives pursued in these agreements. The seminar generated a fruitful discussion on a variety of related topics such as the impact of the ECJ’s ruling on the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore; options to promote the energy Union strategy; experiences with the Energy Charter Treaty; and the EU China Investment Agreement. (A report of this seminar and other information including papers, can be found here)

Researchers participating in this activity included:

Professor Dagmar Schiek
Dr Billy Melo Araujo

 

Cluster 2 − EU External Trade Relations and Constitutional Values