Since 2018, the EU has been in a labour standards dispute with South Korea, via the mechanisms provided under the EU-South Korea FTA's chapter on sustainable development. Almost two years later, what is the outcome? None other than exposing the weakness of the EU's FTAs. Thread

1 EU launched proceedings because, 8 years after entry into force, Korea had yet to fulfil some core commitments on workers' rights!

After formal consultations had no result, in 2019 the EU requested to set up a panel of independent experts. What can this panel do? Not much

2 The panel can just issue a report & an assessment –but no matter the outcome, there are no consequences for #Korea, as the mechanism does not allow the EU to remove trade concessions!

This is because the trade & sustainable development chapters are not enforceable at all.

3 This case is showing exactly that: the @EU_Commission published a report on the first hearing, which took place last month. Korean gov argued that its failure to ratify labour standards conventions since the FTA came into force does not mean it is in breach of its provisions.

4 According to Korea, the treaty only says that the parties should make “continued and sustained efforts”, but not to actually ratify the agreements.

Read more on this case: https://borderlex.eu/2020/11/18/korea-to-eu-labour-commitments-in-fta-not-a-legal-obligation/

5 ConclusionThis dispute confirms what we @GreensEFA have been saying for years: EU trade agreements are completely failing when it comes to workers’ rights, #HumanRights & environment.

We need to make the sustainable development chapters truly enforceable and sanctionable!