Effective labour rights in the EU: towards a fair enforcement ecosystem

Abstract

This article explores the strengths and limits of the current EU approach to ensuring the effective enforcement of its social acquis. It stresses the limits of the traditional approach, premised on centralised and decentralised judicial enforcement. It notes that some of these limitations are mitigated by a greater role for EU administrative bodies performing in a supervisory and (quasi-)enforcement capacity. But it also notes that the effective enforcement of, in particular, some of the new EPSR instruments will require a different approach, requiring greater emphasis on policy delivery, and a new role for both EU and national administrative bodies. It concludes by suggesting an ecosystem approach to the enforcement of the social acquis, and explores some of the possible elements of that ecosystem.