The Future of the Brussels Effect
Chapter 9 concludes this book by looking into the future. It addresses both external and internal challenges to EU’s regulatory hegemony and examines whether and how the Brussels Effect will persist, given these challenges. The impending departure of the United Kingdom from the EU may appear to weaken the EU’s regulatory power. The growing concerns over the future of multilateral institutions and international cooperation may also challenge the EU’s ability to shape the global regulatory environment. Additional challenges loom on the horizon. These include the rise of China and other emerging powers that will gradually erode the relative market power of the EU. Technological change may revolutionize industrial processes, allowing for greater customization and thereby reducing the need to produce to a single global (often European) standard. Finally, the EU’s internal political struggles may compromise its ability to engage in effective rule making as the anti-EU sentiment grows. This chapter will consider each of these challenges in turn, offering an account of not just the EU’s regulatory power but the persistence of that power.