Centre Co-Director James Harrison will lead a policy seminar in Brussels on 2 March which will focus on researching findings about labour rights provisions in EU trade agreements. Full details of the seminar are set out below.

Trade and Sustainable Development Chapters in EU Trade Agreements: Can current limitations be overcome?

Warwick Brussels Office , Avenue d'Auderghem 22-28, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium

Thursday March 2^nd, 4.00pm-6.00pm followed by a drinks reception

Please Register Here

This policy seminar will present recent research findings which highlight the limitations in the functioning of labour provisions in trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapters in EU trade agreements. The researchers will set out the aims of the TSD chapters and explain the key problems in achieving them. This will provide the basis for a discussion between all seminar participants about possible ways of overcoming the limitations that have been identified.

Key questions for discussion will include:

· What results and impacts have the monitoring and dialogue mechanisms within the TSD chapters achieved so far? Can they function more effectively in the future? Can the role of civil society become more significant?

· To what extent can (1) increased prioritisation of TSD chapters by key actors; (2) better resourcing of the TSD chapter’s key functions; (3) greater enforceability of provisions; and/or (4) better recognition of the different issues faced in different trading partner contexts overcome current limitations?

· Do we have to look beyond the ‘TSD chapter’ model to ensure that the social dimensions of EU FTAs are appropriately addressed?

This policy seminar originates from an ESRC-funded research project entitled “Working Beyond the Border: European Union Trade Agreements and International Labour Standards. The project team are Dr. Mirela Barbu, Dr. Liam Campling and Professor Adrian Smith from Queen Mary University of London and Dr. James Harrison and Dr. Ben Richardson from the University of Warwick