Workshop 3: Sustainable Europe and its Global Reach

While this concept has emerged in the context of international environmental governance since 1987, it is reinforced in the UN context with the establishment of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. This ambitious global agenda aims to reconcile the economic, social and ecological dimensions of sustainable development, and places the fight against poverty - including the need for economic growth - and environmental protection on the same agenda.

While a definition of “sustainable development” lacks in EU primary law, references to “sustainable” and “sustainable development” can be found in many primary law provisions. However, given the abstract character of this multi-facetted concept and the rather fragmented - or even unsystematic - codification in secondary EU law, it is necessary to examine how EU institutions carry out this balancing exercise between different EU values and how the promotion of sustainable development and non-trade values (i.a. environmental protection, labour standards, human rights, rule of law and democracy aims) are integrated in EU external action.

The EU self-reflects on its role as a “global trail blazer” in sustainable development by engaging in open and rule-based trade in a bilateral and multilateral framework (European Commission, Reflection paper toward a sustainable Europe by 2030). The Commission further emphasizes in its European Green Deal the ambition on the one hand to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050, and on the other hand posting the EU as a global leader by promoting implementing “ambitious environment, climate and energy policies across the world”. These ambitious goals are set at the same time as reports come out that the EU Member States will miss the 2030 SDGs targets, some Member States face difficulties with complying with their binding climate and energy targets for 2020.

 Call for Papers workshop 3