"Social policy at the global level: EU member states at the ILO"

Johnson, Ailish. (2003) "Social policy at the global level: EU member states at the ILO". In: UNSPECIFIED, Nashville, TN. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The first purpose of this paper is to assess how EU member states behave at the ILO [International Labor Organization] ... all fifteen EU member states are also members of the ILO. The argument presented here is that states should act to extend their national systems of social regulation under conditions of deep economic integration. States with high cost and benefit policies will lead proposals for the adoption of such policies by other states so as to reduce the possible competitive disadvantages of such policies. States with low costs are expected to resist higher standards. In order to assess a national regulation explanation of preferences for global cooperation, the number of ratifications of ILO Conventions by EU member states are compared in the first section of this paper. The second purpose of this paper is to analyze the interaction between global and regional forms of governance in the social policy field. In what areas does the ILO have the competency to legislate, and what occurs when ILO and EU competence overlap? On a less descriptive and more analytical level, is global governance at the ILO a necessary accompaniment m regional social policy under conditions of globalization, and if so, is it effective in plugging the gaps left by regional regulation so as to reduce competition among states on the basis of social policy? By considering such questions, we assess whether European and global forms of governance are mutually supportive, or if they may work against the effective operation of one another.

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