Relocation: an old problem in search of new answers

Cases of relocation are widespread all over Europe. This book investigates how adequate and effective the national and European legal frameworks are in preventing relocation or mitigating its effects. The book reconstructs the main cases of relocation and looks at the national measures that were used to prevent them or limit their negative outcomes. The role of trade unions and workers’ representatives during the relocation process is also analysed. Contributions explore the reasons that may have legitimated the decision to relocate, the squandering of public funds granted to companies relocated abroad and the many other negative consequences of relocation on the environment and the industrial and social goals targeted by public policies. The book also explores the measures set up by the European Union to prevent the type of predatory behaviour that aims to locate production where labour costs are low and trade union rights are weaker. Indeed, faced with the disruption of global supply chains caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian war, the European Institutions have developed a debate on the open strategic autonomy, including reshoring processes and friendly-shoring policies and ambitious programmes such as the Green Deal, the Just Transition and Digitalisation, which are threatened by such behaviour. The book concludes with a careful cost/benefit analysis of relocation processes. This makes it clear that it would be imprudent to leave them exclusively to the whim of market forces. Overall, the contributions collected in this book aim to raise a debate on relocation. Rather than the current remedial approach that considers relocation as an inevitable aspect of capitalism, the authors think that relocation can – and should – be regulated at national and European level. This way it would avoid its negative effects not only on employment and working conditions but also on the environment and public policies.