Labor Standards and External Promotion of European Norms

The paper analyzes limits for external norm promotion by assessing labor clauses in EU FTAs and their effectiveness, as well as the relevance of European labor standards to other states. It identifies core European  methods and norms for promoting labor standards, with emphasis on relations with developed and developing countries. The article seeks to move beyond traditional explanations of relatively limited impact of European group of norms on labor issues, and proposes an alternative framework of analysis, where non-state actors play more important role than EU member states and the Commission. Finally, it argues that ethical and moral arguments visible in the EU position towards labor rights, evolved, and social corporate responsibility has been elevated as another area of possible EU influence, where specific European norms could be promoted