Fundamental Social Rights, Market Regulation and EU External Action

Abstract

This article examines fundamental social rights in the era of globalization, focusing on the EU's strategy to promote respect for social rights in its external actions. A new feature of the Lisbon Treaty is the 'horizontal social clause' (Article 9 TFEU), stipulating that EU policies must take social requirements into account to ensure consistency between various policies and social objectives. This clause will be explored also in its external dimension, pursuant to Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty. Finally, other social provisions of EU external action will be dealt with, including the promotion of International Labour Organization (ILO) labour standards in free trade agreements (such as the CARIFORUM), Corporate Social Responsibility and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), in particular the GSP Plus scheme.