In this vein, the EU may require that standards continue to stay aligned in the future, hinting to a mechanism of “dynamic alignment” measured against the EU rules (e.g. on state aid); in other areas, it may demand at least the guarantees of “non-regression” and “ratcheting-up” (e.g. on sustainable development, social and labour rights, environmental protection) (see Box 5).
Box 5: non-regression v. dynamic alignment v. ratchet-up
If States A and B commit to “non-regression,” they are each free to pass new laws, as long as they do not weaken the standards they had at the time of the commitment.