Online Workshop 

About the Book

"This highly original book constitutes one of the first attempts to examine the problem of distributive justice in the European Union in a systematic manner. João Labareda argues that the set of shared political institutions at EU level, including the European Parliament and the Court of Justice of the EU, generate democratic duties of redistribution among EU citizens. Furthermore, the economic structure of the EU, comprising a common market, a common currency and a free-movement area, triggers duties of reciprocity among member states. The responsibilities to fulfil these duties, Labareda argues, should be shared by the local, national and supranational levels of government. Not only should the EU act as a safety net to the national welfare systems, applying the principle of subsidiarity, but common market and Eurozone regulations should balance their efficiency targets with fair cooperation terms.

The concrete policy proposals presented in this book include a threshold of basic goods for all EU citizens, an EU labour code, a minimum EU corporate tax rate and an EU fund for competitiveness. Labarada argues that his proposals match the political culture of the member states, are economically feasible, can be translated into functioning institutions and policies and are consistent with the limited degree of social solidarity in Europe. This book is a major contribution to the understanding of what a just Europe would look like and what it might take to get us there." (publisher book description - https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526152619/towards-a-just-europe/)

About the Author

João Labareda is currently Chair of the Working Party on EFTA at Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Previously, he was a speechwriter of the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation. He holds a PhD in political science from the European University Institute.

Programme

9:00- 11:00: comments and response by author

Introduction: The problem of Distributive Justice in the EU - Siba Harb (KCL)

Chapter 1: Two Distributive Duties - Pablo Puertas (EUI)

Chapter 2: Democratic Redistribution in the EU- Sara Amighetti (University of Zurich)

Chapter 3: Economic Reciprocity in the EU- Andrea Sangiovanni (KCL)

Chapter 4: A Moderate Feasibility Test for Normative Theory- Jelena Belic (Leiden University)

Chapter 5: Realising Distributive Justice in the EU - Miklos Zala (Centre for Social Sciences-Institute for Political Science, HASCE)

11:15- 12:00: From academia to policy - a conversation with João Labreda

 

 

Registration

Registration is mandatory. Please register by sending an email to siba.harb@kcl.ac.uk before 14 June. This workshop will take place on zoom. A link will be sent after registration.