In my research I apply a critical legal perspective on the current direction of development of the EU food regulation. Analysing three regulatory mechanisms—mutual recognition, scientific risk regulation and standardisation— and their role in the evolution of food legislation in the EU, I attempt at showing the inadequacy of the current framework in facing the challenges of enlargement.
Using the particular experience of a new member state, Poland, I argue that enlarged Europe must not disregard diverse socioeconomic implications of market regulation. Due to historical legacies and a bias in favour of homogeneity, EU food regulatory regime has generated a one-dimensional crisis-oriented approach. As a result, it tends to overlook other legitimate concerns such as quality, diversity and local traditions. In my research, I try to argue that this need not be so. Hence, combining an empirical analysis of the evolution of EU food regulation with a theoretical study of selected mechanisms used in governing food, I provide a critical outlook on the capacity of the regulatory system to accommodate increased post-enlargement diversity, and I consider possibility of improvement.Karolina Zurek has a PhD (2010) in Law from the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. Currently she is senior researcher in law at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS) and visiting researcher at the Center for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University.
Talare: Karolina Zurek, PhD, EUI Florence
Plats: Lunch room, 7th floor, C-house (Note the place!); 12-13.30; for registration please e-mail Julia Lodén at julia.loden@juridicum.su.se; light lunch will be served to those who register.