Edward Elgar Publishing The European Union and Globalisation: Towards Global Democratic Governance (New Horizons in International Business series)

The EU has taken a leading role in calling for a round of new trade negotiations in the WTO to deal with the issues of globalisation. Proposals in the EU call for expansion into new areas such as global investment, competition, and environmental rules in addition to liberalisation negotiations on agriculture and services. Issues such as global governance, capital mobility, and labour standards are also explored. Brigid Gavin questions if the EU's call for path-breaking global negotiations is too ambitious and whether or not it will fail to achieve the required response from its trading partners. The book demonstrates how the EU has evolved constitutionally beyond the internal market into a highly developed system of multi-level governance. Non-state actors such as NGOs, labour unions and private industry groups have been increasingly engaged in the discussion, decision-making and implementation of policy. The volume therefore contains important lessons for the WTO. Exploring path-breaking reforms for increased parliamentary control of globalisation in the WTO, and providing a concrete model for implementation, this volume will be invaluable to academics, policymakers and NGOs in the areas of European studies, institutional relations and international business. Review 'Brigid Gavin has produced a timely book, which is impeccably researched. . . It has that rare quality of being both informative and thought provoking.' About the Author Brigid Gavin, was Lecturer in Economics of European Integration, Europa Institute, University of Basel, Switzerland from 1993–1999. She is currently EU Policy Advisor to Greenpeace, Brussels, Belgium