Social Rights: The EU and the International Labour Organization

This paper analyzes the export of EU standards and the promotion of international labour standards by the EU in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions. As a latecomer, the Community initially had hardly any social provisions. Over time, the density and scope of social regulation increased, mainly by importing ILO standards, which were later developed to surpass ILO standards. Still, the scope addressed by EU rules is considerably narrower and excludes some core labour standards. On the other hand, the EU has promoted these core labour standards externally. Vertically, the EU has quite successfully attempted to export its internal standards into ILO conventions in areas with highly developed Community rules such as working conditions or occupational health and safety. However, success with regard to policy content has been bought with a low take-up rate, as states chose not to ratify conventions with excessively high standards. When promoting high core labour standards, EU Member States have encountered stronger resistance and were forced to settle for compromised results. Successful horizontal policy export has mainly been limited to candidate states for EU accession, so that its effect on the take-up rate on the global level is small. Core labour standards have been promoted through the EU’s preferential trade rules with developing countries, albeit to a limited degree.