EU statement at the 282nd Session of ILO on globalization - Geneva

Mr. President,

The European Union received with great interest the paper on enhancing the action of our Working Party (WP/SDG/1), as well as the study on trade liberalization and employment (WP/SDG/2) which we are going to examine today.

The European Union reaffirms the great importance, which it attaches to addressing the social dimension of globalization. Recent events have underlined the effects which globalization has on everyone's lives, employment and working environment. It is therefore important to discuss all of its implications on the basis of the widest possible consensus so as to provide a coherent and constructive response. The aim should be to enable everyone to benefit from globalization in ways which lead directly to the eradication of poverty, the achievement of social cohesion, the creation of employment and improved governance. In this connection, the European Union confirms the great importance it attaches to following up the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work through positive measures from all sides, including technical assistance and greater cooperation between governments and social partners.

In view of the abovementioned objectives, the European Union confirms its strong support for reinforcing the ILO's role and, in this context, the EU Council is currently examining the recent European Commission communication on "Promoting core labour standards and improving social governance in the context of globalization". The EU favours the establishment, under the auspices of the ILO, of an international substantive dialogue involving other international organisations, including the WTO. The European Union stresses the positive political and economic impact that would be made by the launch of a new round of trade negotiations and its contribution to development and to strengthening international solidarity.

The European Union reiterates the expectations, hopes and encouragement expressed during previous Governing Body sessions in favour of raising the profile of the Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization by discussing, at high level, relevant topics such as the link between trade and employment, and by inviting other international organisations to participate in these discussions at the highest level.

The EU has considered carefully the Director-General's explanation of how a World Commission of eminent personalities would operate to increase knowledge and expertise in analysing the interaction between the global economy and the world of work, inter alia through an authoritative report, which we look forward to receiving in this Working Party. We believe that the World Commission's work could also very usefully embrace other globalization perspectives and effects and enhance the value of all contributions which direct globalization towards greater social progress. In this respect, we endorse the specific issues highlighted in the paper in front of us and we look forward to the Director-General's report to the International Labour Conference in 2003.

We have also noted the Director-General's indications on how the World Commission would be constituted and have confidence that he will be able to identify suitable, eminent people to serve as its members. We endorse the proposal that the officers of the Governing Body and the Director-General should be ex-officio members, serving in their personal and not in any representative capacity. In doing so, we assume that the World Commission will fully involve all the relevant international organizations on questions relating to their respective spheres of competence.

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