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1. Introduction
1.1 Context of the Brussels Effect
The “Brussels Effect” refers to the European Union’s unique capacity to export its regulations globally through sheer market weight and rigorous rules (Tamim, 2024). Originally coined by Bradford and elaborated by Tamim (2024), the concept hinges on four conditions: a large single market, regulatory capacity, non-divisibility of production, and political will to enact stringent standards. Firms that wish to access the EU’s high-income consumer base often adopt EU norms in all jurisdictions to achieve economies of scale and avoid legal fragmentation (Tamim, 2024). Over time, these de facto standards can translate into de jure adoption by third-country governments, as domestic actors seek regulatory coherence (Tamim, 2024).
1.2 Thesis statement: EU as global regulatory power
This essay critically assesses whether and how the EU acts as a global regulatory power through the Brussels Effect, focusing on the mechanisms that underpin its extraterritorial reach and on comparative case studies of GDPR and post-Brexit UK alignment. It argues that while the EU remains a potent standard-setter with significant normative influence (ECIPE, 2025), its regulatory hegemony faces challenges from protectionist trends and competing governance models (Godál, 2025).
2. Body
2.1 Mechanisms of EU regulatory influence
EU institutions exhibit considerable regulatory capacity, backed by technical expertise and enforcement tools such as heavy fines and market access restrictions (Tamim, 2024). The non-divisibility of key economic activities—particularly digital services and data privacy—compels companies to adopt uniform EU rules globally to minimise compliance risks (Tamim, 2024). Moreover, the EU’s political commitment to stringent norms ensures that its regulations often represent a “race to the top,” strengthening its external regulatory pull (Tamim, 2024). The normative power Europe perspective further highlights how the EU’s promotion of democratic values through regulatory activism enhances its global soft power, encouraging third countries to emulate its standards (ECIPE, 2025).
2.2 Comparative case studies
The GDPR exemplifies the Brussels Effect in practice: global firms such as Google and Facebook extended EU data protection measures worldwide to maintain market access, leading several countries in Latin America and Asia to enact GDPR-like laws (Tamim, 2024). Parallelly, after Brexit, the UK sought to balance autonomy with alignment; under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, British regulators retained EU product standards—particularly in food safety and chemicals—to avoid trade friction, illustrating a pragmatic de facto alignment driven by economic incentives (Godál, 2025). However, recent scholarship argues that emerging domains such as AI regulation now feature multiple competing frameworks, from the EU AI Act to U.S. and Chinese models, indicating a multi-polar regulatory landscape where the Brussels Effect may be less dominant (Schlenker, 2025).
3. Conclusion
3.1 Summary of critical assessment
The EU’s Brussels Effect rests on strong regulatory capacity, non-divisible markets, and a preference for strict norms, which collectively enable the union to project rules globally. Case studies of GDPR and UK post-Brexit alignment confirm its de facto and de jure influence. Yet protectionist backlash and rival governance paradigms are eroding the EU’s unilateral leverage (Schlenker, 2025), suggesting a more contested environment.
3.2 Implications for global governance
As regulatory fragmentation intensifies, global governance must shift from unilateral norm exportation to coalition building among like-minded actors. The EU should champion mutual recognition mechanisms and deepen regulatory cooperation in forums such as the OECD and G20 to sustain interoperability and avoid spirals of protectionism (ECIPE, 2025).
3.3 Future research directions
Future studies should explore how digital sovereignty claims reshape the conditions for regulatory diffusion, particularly in AI and data governance. Comparative analysis of emerging non-EU frameworks will illuminate whether hybrid models can coexist with or supplant the Brussels Effect, offering insights into the evolution of global rule-making (Godál, 2025).
References
ECIPE (2025) EU Autonomy, the Brussels Effect, and the Rise of Global Economic Protectionism. ECIPE.
Godál, K. (2025) The Brussels Effect Revisited: How EU Rules Shape Global Choices. TRENDS Research & Advisory.
Schlenker, M. (2025) The Brussels Effect in Retreat. EuropeanRelations.com.
Tamim, J. (2024) The Brussels Effect and the GDPR: EU Institutions as Catalysts for Global Data Protection Norms. Brussels Effect — European Digital Policy Initiative. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.28132.59529.