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Rafael Peels ILO Research Department, Geneva. Civil society involvement and the EU-India FTA. Structure. 1. Main approaches on labour provisions in bilateral FTAs 2. Lessons learned on the effectiveness of labour provisions 3. Assessing civil society involvement 4. The way forward.
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Rafael Peels ILO Research Department, Geneva Civil society involvement and the EU-India FTA
Structure 1. Main approaches on labour provisions in bilateral FTAs 2. Lessons learned on the effectiveness of labour provisions 3. Assessing civil society involvement 4. The way forward
A fast-expanding reality Number of Trade Agreements with labour provisions
Main approaches on labour provisions in bilateral FTAs - India • Absent • EFTA-India negotiation process ??
Lessons learned on the effectiveness of labour provisions • So far, evidence with complaint and sanction mechanisms is mixed • Cooperation • Pre-ratification conditionality
Assessing civil society involvement: EU practices EU main mechanisms in regard with civil society involvement • Negotiation-ratification • Implementation
Assessing civil society involvement: understanding civil society • “Today civil society seems to be the big idea on everyone’s lips” (Edwards, 2004) • What is civil society? • political community • sphere between the private and the state • moral political order
Assessing civil society involvement: whichroleforcivil society ? • foster participatory democracy • represent the views of the excluded or specific groups • channel information and expertise • service providers
Assessing civil society involvement: civil society as political actors • Window of opportunity • Upcoming elections in India • Multi-Level Governance • - Shared competencies
The way forward Reference towards labour concerns in itself is not a guarantee for impact • Need to further assess the effectiveness of various implementation mechanisms, including civil society involvement and innovative practices (e.g. development plans; pre-ratification conditionality; etc.)
The way forward Comprehensive implementation strategies: the optionof labour development plans • Measurable and time-boundcommitments • Linked to monitoring framework of the trade agreement • Technicalcooperation as integral part • Sustainability Impact Assessment: ex-ante and ex-post
The way forward Do we need a stronger focus on positive incentives? • e.g. development cooperation conditioned to labour improvements?
The way forward The potential role of the private sector • More intelligent targeting (e.g. US-Cambodia) • Self-regulation (references to CSR)
Moment of opportunity to enhance global coherence • EU - Canada - US • EU investment policy • Role for the ILO?