Sustainability and Trade: A European Narrative

ended

The aim of Sustainability and Trade: A European Narrative (SUSTAEN) is to facilitate an increased awareness of trade and investment agreements’ increasing focus on environmental, sustainable and societal challenges. SUSTAEN focuses strongly on the European angle, studying how the EU has approached sustainability concerns in its trade and investment agreements. Over the last decades, the concept of sustainability has gotten a firm foothold in discussions, debates, policies and legislation. Only very recently have sustainability concerns trickled down in the policies related to trade and investment agreements and policies. Traditionally trade liberalization has been promoted as a way to generating economic welfare and a better allocation of resources. Trade and investment agreements have finally come to terms with this evolution, and increasingly address these concerns by for example, the incorporation of clauses requiring states parties to adopt and enforce environmental, social and good governance standards. Partnerships play an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and trade and investment agreements are one of the major instruments to implement these global partnerships. SUSTAEN aims to do so by providing a specialized course targeted to advanced MA students, many of whom are international students and might not yet be experts in EU policies. The teaching approach combines conceptual modules delivered by academics with engagement with experts through modules where high level practitioners share their ideas and approaches. The latter's contributions will also be accessible to scholars interested in these topics through the publication of an open access edited volume. Some of these expert lectures will also be made available online as the course will be fully accessible online, and will be designed to allow for interactive and efficient distant learning. Part of SUSTAEN will also be opened up for sister programmes at the host institution.