Research

Viju-Miljusevic, C. (2023) “Common Agriculture Policy” in A. Verdun, A. Hurrelmann and E. Brunet-Jailly (eds.) European Union Governance and Policy-Making. A Canadian Perspective. Toronto: University of Toronto Press (2nd Edition).

The chapter analyzes the CAP’s main objectives, instruments, and outcomes. It also examines its evolution over time. The discussion focuses on core issues related to the CAP, such as pressures for reform, reasons for resistance to change, and ongoing debates.

Duina, F. and Viju-Miljusevic, C. (eds.) (2023) Standardizing the World: EU Trade Policy and the Road to Convergence. Oxford University Press.

In Standardizing the World, Francesco Duina and Crina Viju-Miljusevic have gathered a group of leading experts to present an unprecedented assessment of the EU’s efforts to standardize a wide array of economic, political, and social aspects of life through its trade agreements across the globe. Drawing on economic sociology and constructivist strands in international political economy, the volume examines what is being standardized, the extent to which the EU has been able to project its worldviews, and what explains the observable patterns of standardization across policy areas and geographies. Ten leading scholars from across the world offer as many chapters on EU agreements with all major trading partners and cover efforts in social and labor rights, the environment, investments, rule of law and anti-corruption, agriculture and food quality, services, public procurement, sustainable development, and more. Their findings paint a picture of a dynamic EU capable of projecting its worldviews across the globe that is nonetheless not always consistent or successful.

Leblond, P. and Viju-Miljusevic, C. (2022) “Article 8 – CETA as the first EU third-generation trade agreement: does it act like one?” in F. Torres and A. Bongardt (eds.) Special Issue: “EU Trade Policy and New Globalization Challenges,” Perspectivas – Journal of Political Science Vol. 27, 41-55.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union (EU) has been hailed as the trend-setter for third-generation trade agreements, which focus predominantly on beyond-the-border impediments to international trade (e.g., rules and regulations) than at-the-border barriers (e.g., tariffs). CETA formed the basis for subsequent EU trade agreements, which are a key element of the EU’s trade policy. It also provided inspiration for third-generation trade agreements outside the EU. The big question for trade policy, in the EU and beyond, is whether third-generation trade agreements achieve their intended objectives with respect to beyond-the-border obstacles to trade. In other words, are they effective instruments in liberalizing international trade? After all, facilitating trade through regulatory and administrative cooperation is much more difficult than eliminating or lowering tariffs on imported goods. Having been in force (provisionally) for five years, CETA offers the best case to study the effectiveness of third-generation trade agreements.