The European Commission Trade Policy Review: The Effectiveness of Sustainable Development Chapters in EU FTAs

• Main Author: Mattia Colli Vignarelli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Papers (www.europeanpapers.eu) 2021-03-01
• Series: European Papers
• Subjects: eu policies; common commercial policy; eu trade policy review; trade and sustainable development; external relations; free trade agreements
• Online Access: https://www.europeanpapers.eu/en/europeanforum/european-commission-trade-policy-review-effectiveness-sustainable-development-chapters

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2021 6(1), 1-5 | European Forum Highlight of 29 March 2021 | (Abstract) This Highlight focuses on the European Trade Policy Review, published by the European Commission on 18 February 2021. It first summarizes the content of the new trade strategy and then focuses on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD). It provides an overview on the evolution of TSD Chapters since their first appearance in the 2009 EU-South Korea FTA and illustrates the debate on their effectiveness. It then addresses the European Commission’s commitment to an early review in 2021 of the 15 points Action Plan on TSD Chapters and the envisaged shifting towards a sanction-based enforcement approach.