The Still Complex Relationship between the ILO and the EU: The Example of Anti-Discrimination Law

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between the ILO and the EU as an example of the complex interactions between social standard setting at the global level and on a regional scale. Even though the two legal orders are independent and autonomous, there are a number of interactions between them. After outlining first the institutional framework and the various mechanisms of co-operation between the ILO and the EU, the article focuses on anti-discrimination law as one significant example of substantive law in the relationship between the two legal orders. Thus, EU-law has not only promoted the implementation of (certain) ILO standards in the field of anti-discrimination law, but it has also come into conflict with certain ILO standards, in particular with Convention 111.The main argument is that co-operation between ILO and EU needs to be strengthened in order to avoid further conflicts between the two legal orders.