A burning post-war question that has been a source of much debate within trade union organisations is that of ‘Europe,’ which, through ‘deepening’ and ‘widening’, has changed in form and content across time. National trade unions have expressed different preferences towards ‘Social Europe’ from those advocating ‘ever closer union’ to those supporting ‘unity in diversity.’…

General Overview of European Court of Human Rights Interpretation on Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights Industrial conflicts and industrial actions have long and significant effects on collective bargaining. The right to strike, a traditional type of collective action is the most effective power of trade unions and workers to promote their…

Introduction The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the labour market is fuelling a global debate about its potential to revolutionize recruitment processes, including in the public sector. Public hiring systems, traditionally founded on open competitions to ensure meritocracy, transparency, and equal access to public employment, may soon be challenged by AI’s ability to automate…

1.      Introduction Trade between the United States and Mexico has surged dramatically in recent decades. As reported by The New York Times in February 2024, the U.S. now imports more goods from Mexico than from China. In this environment, access to the U.S. market has become essential for Mexican companies, fostering a political climate conducive…

KU Leuven Library © David Mangan

How will the right to disconnect work? The French Disconnection France’s ‘right to disconnect’ was a pioneering attempt to engage with workers’ health and safety in response to the extension of working time precipitated by digitalisation. The concept originated with a decision of the Labour Chamber of the Cour de Cassation in October 2001 (2 October…

The Gallery

In June 2024, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) delivered an important yet controversial decision in case C-540/22SN and Others v Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid, referred to Luxemburg by a Dutch national court. In the judgment, the CJEU attempts to diplomatically tackle the grey area of temporary labour mobility of third-country nationals…

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We live in a digital era where daily life has been significantly changed by the rise of online services and networks. Much of our communication and access to information now takes place in the online world, offering unprecedented possibilities for individual expression and public debate. Judges, just like all citizens, are part of this digital…

Introduction A good decade ago, Transnational Company Agreements (TCAs) were a hot topic in Europe. In the broader context of globalisation, they were hailed as an interesting step forward in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), nowadays called Corporate Sustainability. However, since 2016 discussions about TCAs faded and ever since it seems as if…

Source: Risk management logic of the AI Act and related standards - Streaming Service of the European Commission (europa.eu)

Formally adopted by the Council  of the EU in May 2024, the AI Act[1] aims to enhance the competitiveness of the Single Market, while ensuring the protection of health, safety, and fundamental rights. This comprehensive regulation impacts a wide range of stakeholders including manufacturers, deployers,[2] providers of AI models and systems, who must inventory their…

Introduction Anyone who comes in contact with the European Union (EU) legislative process will have noticed the EU and its Member States shifting into high gear to improve sustainability in their global value chains. The prime example is the recent hard-fought battle for the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), which was…