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The WTO – a driving force for the liberalisation of public services in the EU?

Author

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  • Werner Raza

    (Department for European & International Affairs, Chamber of Labour of Vienna, Austria, and Vienna University of Economics and B.A.)

Abstract

Liberalisation of public services can be implemented not only through autonomous legislative action by individual countries, but also as a consequence of obligations arising from membership of supranational or international organisations. This article analyses how the process of the commodification of services at the level of the WTO, i.e. via the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), interacts with the politics of trade and services liberalisation in the European Union. Thus, we highlight the specific role of services negotiations in the WTO for the political dynamics of liberalising public services in the EU. Our conclusions highlight three specific functions of the GATS agreement: first, it serves as an institutional mechanism to ‘lock-in’ liberalisations achieved at a national or European level, secondly, it exercises a disciplinary effect on national regulation, and, thirdly, it provides an additional platform for the application of forum-shifting in the politics of international trade.

Suggested Citation

  • Werner Raza, 2008. "The WTO – a driving force for the liberalisation of public services in the EU?," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 14(2), pages 277-294, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:14:y:2008:i:2:p:277-294
    DOI: 10.1177/102425890801400208
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