The European Union and Global Labour Law
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Law
Abstract
Context:
My research is concerned with the social dimension of globalisation and prospects for a more effective system of transnational regulation of labour law within an international rule-based legal order. In particular, it seeks to evaluate the increasingly influential contribution of the EU to global social governance and consider the extent to which the EU has the political and legal capacity to fulfil its aim of setting globalisation within a 'moral framework' by utilising its normative powers to promote European social values as a central component of its international relations policy.
Summary of the project:
The project is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the main themes and presents the case for reinforcing global labour law. In the second part there will be an analysis of the scope of EU labour law and social rights with reference to their potential to aid the effective enforcement of transnational labour standards. The third part addresses the legal and political relationships between, on the one hand, the EU and the ILO, and on the other, the EU and the WTO. This part includes case studies, to help explain and analyse these relationships, and a discussion of the effectiveness of alternative models of global social governance. I will suggest that the future dynamic of EU labour law is likely to lie with its external dimension but the success of EU policy depends on striking the right balance between Europeanisation and social self-determination for people in developing countries.
My research is concerned with the social dimension of globalisation and prospects for a more effective system of transnational regulation of labour law within an international rule-based legal order. In particular, it seeks to evaluate the increasingly influential contribution of the EU to global social governance and consider the extent to which the EU has the political and legal capacity to fulfil its aim of setting globalisation within a 'moral framework' by utilising its normative powers to promote European social values as a central component of its international relations policy.
Summary of the project:
The project is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the main themes and presents the case for reinforcing global labour law. In the second part there will be an analysis of the scope of EU labour law and social rights with reference to their potential to aid the effective enforcement of transnational labour standards. The third part addresses the legal and political relationships between, on the one hand, the EU and the ILO, and on the other, the EU and the WTO. This part includes case studies, to help explain and analyse these relationships, and a discussion of the effectiveness of alternative models of global social governance. I will suggest that the future dynamic of EU labour law is likely to lie with its external dimension but the success of EU policy depends on striking the right balance between Europeanisation and social self-determination for people in developing countries.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jeffrey Simon Kenner (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Kenner J
(2011)
Preferential Trade Agreements - A Law and Economics Analysis
Kenner J
(2013)
The EU's Role in Global Governance - The Legal Dimension
Van Vooren, Bart; Blockmans, Steven; Wouters, Jan
(2013)
The EU's Role in Global Governance: The Legal Dimension
Bagwell, Kyle W.; Mavroidis, Petros C.
(2011)
Preferential Trade Agreements: A Law and Economics Analysis
| Description | This is a study of the social dimension of globalisation and prospects for a more effective system of transnational regulation of labour law within an international rule-based legal order. In particular, I have sought to evaluate the increasingly influential contribution of the EU to global social governance and consider the extent to which the EU has the political and legal capacity to fulfil its aim of setting globalisation within a "moral framework" by utilising its normative powers to promote European social values as a central component of its international relations policy. The project was divided into three parts. The first part introduced the main themes and presents the case for reinforcing global labour law. In the second part there was an analysis of the scope of EU labour law and social rights with reference to their potential to aid the effective enforcement of transnational labour standards. The third part addressed the legal and political relationships between, on the one hand, the EU and the ILO, and on the other, the EU and the WTO. This part included case studies, to help explain and analyse these relationships, and a discussion of the effectiveness of alternative models of global social governance. In the conclusion it is suggested that the future dynamic of EU labour law is likely to lie with its external dimension but the success of EU policy depends on striking the right balance between Europeanisation and social self-determination for people in developing countries. |
| Exploitation Route | The aim of this research beyond the acadmic context is to influence governmental actors in the European Union to promote adherence to international labour standards as a central component of external relations policy. It is also aimed at influencing other international and regional organisations including the International Labour Organisation and the African, Carribean, Pacific Group of States (ACP). My work on Economic Partnership Agreements is of particular relevance to the ACP and regional organisations within the ACP. It also has the potential to influence non-governmental actors in developing countries including trade unions, employers organisations and groups representing minorities and indigenous peoples. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Environment,Healthcare,Security and Diplomacy |
| Description | Fostering Human Rights Among European (Internal and External) Policies (FRAME) |
| Amount | £353,195 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 320000 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Fostering Human Rights Among European (Internal and External) Policies (FRAME) |
| Amount | £353,195 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 320000 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Centre for the Law of EU External Relations (CLEER) |
| Organisation | T.M.C. Asser Institute |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | International network of EU external relations legal academics |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | EU-China Human Rights Dialogue |
| Organisation | National University of Ireland, Galway |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Participating expert at the bi-annual EU-China human rights dialogue held in Beijing, China, 18-19 November 2009. Invited due to expertise in the EU and global labour law arising from work on the AHRC grant funded project. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | EU-China Human Rights Dialogue 2012 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Participating expert at the bi-annual EU-China human rights dialogue held in Galway, Ireland, 30-31 October 2012. Invited due to expertise in the EU and global labour law arising from work on the AHRC grant funded project. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Fostering Human Rights Among European (External and Internal) Policies |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | EU FP7 Collaborative Project (large scale integrated project) GA No. 320000 Work programme topics addressed: Work Package 7 - Engagement with Private Actors, TNCs and Civil Society First report on the positive and negative impacts of non-state actors published on 30 October 2014 and available at: http://www.fp7-frame.eu/category/news-frame/ SSH.2012.4.2-1. Challenge: Human rights in EU external relations and internal policies |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project is led by the University of Leuven (see separate entry) |
| Impact | First report on the positive and negative impacts of non-state actors published on 30 October 2014 and available at: http://www.fp7-frame.eu/category/news-frame/ Multidisciplinary in collaboration with the University of Abo |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Fostering Human Rights Among European (External and Internal) Policies |
| Organisation | Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EU FP7 Collaborative Project (large scale integrated project) GA No. 320000 Work programme topics addressed: Work Package 7 - Engagement with Private Actors, TNCs and Civil Society First report on the positive and negative impacts of non-state actors published on 30 October 2014 and available at: http://www.fp7-frame.eu/category/news-frame/ SSH.2012.4.2-1. Challenge: Human rights in EU external relations and internal policies |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project is led by the University of Leuven (see separate entry) |
| Impact | First report on the positive and negative impacts of non-state actors published on 30 October 2014 and available at: http://www.fp7-frame.eu/category/news-frame/ Multidisciplinary in collaboration with the University of Abo |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | The EU and Global Labour Law |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Participants in your research or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Semiar at the Institute of European and Comparative Law, University of Oxford, 28 October 2009 Seminar given during a period as Visiting Fellow at the Institute from February 2009 to January 2010. The final period of this Visiting Fellowship coincided with the AHRC funded period of research leave. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |