The 2021 EUTW Forum IV is " Sustainable Development, Labor Rights and The EU’s Trade Policy." This was the first time the forum was co-planned with the Ministry of Labor, inviting scholars and experts in European and international affairs, law, and labour studies to present and discuss important issues related to EU labor rights and sustainable development. The forum took place on 27 October (Wednesday) 2021 at 10:00 AM in the briefing room on the first floor of the National Central Library. It was co-hosted by the Ministry of Labor, the European Union Centre in Taiwan, and the EU Center of Excellence at National Taiwan University, with the National Central Library and the European Community Studies Association (R.O.C) as co-organizers.

Professor Tailin Chang, adjunct professor at the Graduate Institute of European Culture and Tourism at National Taiwan Normal University and convener of the Taiwan-EU Forum, chaired the event. He invited Professor Shihhao Liu (Dean and Professor of the College of Law at Ming Chuan University) and Assistant Professor Tingyio Huang (Assistant Professor in the Department of Law at Kainan University) to make presentations. The discussion was further enriched by the participation of Associate Research Fellow Cingkae Chiao (Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of European and American Studies, Academia Sinica) and Commissioner Yongyu Lin (Senior Specialist, Department of General Planning in Ministry of Labor).

Professor Tailin Chang began the session by noting that Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, established in 2009, grants the EU exclusive competence over common trade and investment policy. This means that EU institutions, particularly the European Commission, are responsible for the legislation, negotiation, and signing of external trade agreements. However, in accordance with the fundamental principles of human rights and the rule of law, the EU requires a considerable degree of social dialogue and sustainable development in its external trade, focusing particularly on issues such as human rights, working conditions, and environmental protection. Observing the real-world challenges faced in EU trade agreements with other countries, Chang emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of the EU’s systems and practices, particularly in relation to labor rights and sustainable development.

Senior Specialist  Yongyu Lin also shared insights into the development of labor issues within the EU, addressing problems arising from the recent rise of platform economies in Taiwan and related measures. He explained that the Ministry of Labor is expanding the application of regulations to various types of labor and is promoting occupational safety and health standards, requiring platform operators to act similarly to employers and provide appropriate commercial insurance.

The Taiwan EU Forum continues to invite top experts and scholars for in-depth observation and analysis, presenting excellent scholars and research results to participants. This provides a platform for experts from various sectors interested in EU affairs and development to engage in discussions and exchanges. The forum's proceedings, organized in collaboration with the National Central Library, are available on the library’s digital audio-visual service platform (website: http://mdava.ncl.edu.tw/parts2.php?tid=53).