La politique commerciale extérieure de l'union européenne : cohérence et intérêts des entreprises

The difficulty in defining the concept of restructuring is well established in the literature on the subject. Industrial restructuring is a striking feature of the European economic landscape nowadays. Patterns of restructuring vary from one country to another and across sectors. Whatever the approach, restructuring represents an attempt to manage and anticipate change, simultaneously tackling issues of economic, social and environmental significance. The negotiation process of international trade agreements traditionally leaves very little room to the involvement of private actors, whether as participants or through indirect influence. Which instruments are capable of fostering the reconciliation between bilateral trade negotiations and the interests of companies, and allowing the latter to get their voice heard at the European level ? Through the analysis of restructuring actions in the textile and sugar sectors, the question to be answered is that of the coherency between social policy and international trade negotiations.