Exchange of letters between the Commission of the European Communities and the International Labour Organization
Date: 2001-05-14
Institutions: European Commission, International Labour Organization
Subjects: European Commission, International Labour Organisation, cooperation policy, employment policy, social policy

30.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 156/5

Exchange of letters between the Commission of the European Communities and the International
Labour Organization

(2001/C 156/03)

Draft letter from the European Commission

Dear Mr Director-General,

The International Labour Organization and the European Communities have a shared commitment to
social and economic progress, to improving living and working conditions, and to promoting employment.
Since the first agreement between the ILO and the Communities in 1958, the two organizations have
progressively developed their cooperation to further these aims.

The ILO and the European Communities, represented by the Commission, last exchanged letters in 1989.
Since then, there have been profound changes in Europe while the global economy has been developing
rapidly, and both the ILO and the European Communities have significantly reinforced and developed their
capacity for responding to new challenges in the area of social and employment policy. It is therefore
timely for us to bring our exchange of letters up to date. This new exchange of letters should thus serve,
first, to identify the areas in which new challenges have emerged for both our organizations, and second,
to establish on that basis the priority areas in which cooperation between the ILO and the Commission
would be most beneficial.

Since 1989, social and employment issues have increasingly moved to the fore both at the European level
and internationally. Globalization has undoubtedly brought many benefits but it is widely felt that these are
reaching too few. There has been growing public concern that the social aspects of globalization have been
neglected. It is also being recognized that new integrated approaches are called for at various levels,
including by the institutions of
the international community. The ILO has identified four strategic
objectives as crucial to its mandate in the context of globalization: fundamental principles and rights at
work, the promotion of employment for women and men, the enhancement of social protection and the
promotion of social dialogue. Together, these constitute the essence of (cid:145)Decent Work(cid:146). The process of
European integration, for its part, has acquired a strong and dynamic social dimension. In this context, the
promotion of quality is now at the heart of the EU’s agenda for employment, social policy and industrial
relations, as the driving force for a thriving economy, more and better jobs and an inclusive society.
Moreover, the process of enlargement of the European Union will require the new Member States to adhere
to the framework of the European social model.

With regard to labour standards and human rights, an area in which the Community and the ILO share a
strong common interest, the importance of promoting respect for fundamental principles and rights at
work, alongside economic development and trade liberalization, is now more widely recognized than ever.
In 1995, the World Summit for Social Development defined a social floor for the global economy in terms
of the ILO Conventions covering four basic principles: freedom of association and collective bargaining,
freedom from forced labour and discrimination, and the abolition of child labour. In this context, the ILO
has reinforced its role as the focal point for international efforts to promote opportunities for women and
men to obtain decent and productive work with the adoption of the Declaration on Fundamental Prin-
ciples and Rights at Work. In the European Union, a reference to fundamental social rights is now included
in the Treaty itself, as is the possibility of concrete action by the Community against discrimination and
social exclusion. Furthermore, the European Union has proclaimed a Charter of Fundamental Rights, which
will be another instrument in its efforts to promote economic and social progress. The Community is
committed, moreover, to promoting core labour standards throughout its external relations policies and in
its development cooperation.

With regard to the social dialogue, there have been significant developments in the EU since 1989. The
social partners have been given new and enhanced responsibilities in the elaboration of social policy at the
European level. This reinforces social dialogue at the EU level while pointing to a new way of moving
ahead on social policy matters. These developments are particularly important in view of the forthcoming
historic enlargement of the EU.

C 156/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30.5.2001

In respect of the promotion of employment, similarly, both the ILO and the European Community have
significantly strenghtened their efforts since the last exchange of
Indeed, creating greater
employment opportunities for women and men has been declared one of the ILO’s strategic objectives.
The European Union,
for its part, has developed an extensive employment strategy which seeks to
maximize the employment potential of the European economy while respecting the principle of gender
equality. It should further be noted that the ILO and the European Community now have common goals
with respect to the promotion of social protection.

letters.

With regard to development cooperation, the challenges facing the ILO and the Communities have evolved
considerably since the 1989 exchange of letters. It is a tribute not least to the advocacy of the ILO that the
international system as a whole is increasingly integrating social considerations into programmes and
strategies for economic development. This also serves to underscore the lasting importance of the 1995
World Summit for Social Development and its follow-up.

On the EU side, the Community aims, through its development cooperation policy in which equity is a
guiding principle, to foster sustainable development and to help developing countries to eradicate poverty
and to become integrated into the world economy. Indeed, the Community recently agreed that poverty
reduction should be the central objective of its development efforts. The ILO’s Decent Work agenda is also
a development agenda based on growth, employment and jobs. Development cooperation is one means of
action which the ILO uses to promote and realize its values while simultaneously responding to the
developmental needs of its member States.

Against this background, the Commission and the ILO agree that it would be of benefit to both organ-
izations to develop their cooperation by focussing on the following priority areas:

(cid:151) The promotion of labour standards, notably with regard to the principles and rights set out in the

1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work;

(cid:151) The promotion of employment, notably through an exchange of information and experience on the
European Employment Strategy and the ILO’s efforts to create employment opportunities for women
and men;

(cid:151) Social dialogue, not least with a view to the possible dissemination of the lessons from the European

experience with social dialogue to other regions of the world;

(cid:151) The social and employment policy aspects of enlargement of the EU, notably with regard to social

dialogue;

(cid:151) Social protection, through targeted collaboration on selected themes; and

(cid:151) Development cooperation, notably with a view to strengthening the social dimension of development,

while also collaborating at the operational level in the service of sustainable development.

In order to develop cooperation in these and in other areas of mutual interest, the Commission and the
ILO confirm the usefulness of holding high-level meetings on an annual basis, alternately in Brussels and
Geneva, which will review existing cooperation and plan joint activities for the following year.

The following provisions of the 1989 exchange of letters will continue to apply:

(cid:151) The Community, represented by the Commission, will continue to be regularly invited to meetings of

the ILO’s International Labour Conference and of the Governing Body.

(cid:151) The Commission will, in turn and as appropriate, invite representatives of the International Labour
Office to meetings of the Commission at service level dealing with social and labour matters likely to
be of interest to the International Labour Organization.

30.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 156/7

(cid:151) The President of the Commission and the Director-General of the ILO, or their representatives, will
hold consultations on developments within their respective organizations which are likely to have
implications for cooperation between the two parties.

(cid:151) The appropriate form for the exchange of information or assistance in areas of shared interest can be
agreed upon on a case by case basis (visit, preparation of a document, working group, financing of
projects) by the programme managers concerned.

To facilitate cooperation through project financing, the ILO and the Commission will continue to hold
discussions with a view to establishing standard financial and administrative modalities for ILO implemen-
tation of Commission-funded projects.

There is no doubt that by sharing our experience, engaging in joint reflection on new approaches to
contemporary social issues and, where appropriate, pooling our expertise, we can both respond even more
effectively to the need to promote employment opportunities and to maintain and improve living and
working conditions worldwide.

Yours faithfully,

(. . .)

Draft letter from the ILO

Dear Commissioner,

I hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter of (. . .), the terms of which are as follows:

(cid:145)The International Labour Organization and the European Communities have a shared commitment to
social and economic progress, to improving living and working conditions, and to promoting employment.
Since the first agreement between the ILO and the Communities in 1958, the two organizations have
progressively developed their cooperation to further these aims.

The ILO and the European Communities, represented by the Commission, last exchanged letters in 1989.
Since then, there have been profound changes in Europe while the global economy has been developing
rapidly, and both the ILO and the European Communities have significantly reinforced and developed their
capacity for responding to new challenges in the area of social and employment policy. It is therefore
timely for us to bring our exchange of letters up to date. This new exchange of letters should thus serve,
first, to identify the areas in which new challenges have emerged for both our organizations, and second,
to establish on that basis the priority areas in which cooperation between the ILO and the Commission
would be most beneficial.

Since 1989, social and employment issues have increasingly moved to the fore both at the European level
and internationally. Globalization has undoubtedly brought many benefits but it is widely felt that these are
reaching too few. There has been growing public concern that the social aspects of globalization have been
neglected. It is also being recognized that new integrated approaches are called for at various levels,
including by the institutions of
the international community. The ILO has identified four strategic
objectives as crucial to its mandate in the context of globalization: fundamental principles and rights at
work, the promotion of employment for women and men, the enhancement of social protection and the
promotion of social dialogue. Together, these constitute the essence of (cid:147)Decent Work(cid:148). The process of
European integration, for its part, has acquired a strong and dynamic social dimension. In this context, the
promotion of quality is now at the heart of the EU’s agenda for employment, social policy and industrial
relations, as the driving force for a thriving economy, more and better jobs and an inclusive society.
Moreover, the process of enlargement of the European Union will require the new Member States to adhere
to the framework of the European social model.

C 156/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30.5.2001

With regard to labour standards and human rights, an area in which the Community and the ILO share a
strong common interest, the importance of promoting respect for fundamental principles and rights at
work, alongside economic development and trade liberalization, is now more widely recognized than ever.
In 1995, the World Summit for Social Development defined a social floor for the global economy in terms
of the ILO Conventions covering four basic principles: freedom of association and collective bargaining,
freedom from forced labour and discrimination, and the abolition of child labour. In this context, the ILO
has reinforced its role as the focal point for international efforts to promote opportunities for women and
men to obtain decent and productive work with the adoption of the Declaration on Fundamental Prin-
ciples and Rights at Work. In the European Union, a reference to fundamental social rights is now included
in the Treaty itself, as is the possibility of concrete action by the Community against discrimination and
social exclusion. Furthermore, the European Union has proclaimed a Charter of Fundamental Rights, which
will be another instrument in its efforts to promote economic and social progress. The Community is
committed, moreover, to promoting core labour standards throughout its external relations policies and in
its development cooperation.

With regard to the social dialogue, there have been significant developments in the EU since 1989. The
social partners have been given new and enhanced responsibilities in the elaboration of social policy at the
European level. This reinforces social dialogue at the EU level while pointing to a new way of moving
ahead on social policy matters. These developments are particularly important in view of the forthcoming
historic enlargement of the EU.

In respect of the promotion of employment, similarly, both the ILO and the European Community have
significantly strenghtened their efforts since the last exchange of
Indeed, creating greater
employment opportunities for women and men has been declared one of the ILO’s strategic objectives.
The European Union,
for its part, has developed an extensive employment strategy which seeks to
maximize the employment potential of the European economy while respecting the principle of gender
equality. It should further be noted that the ILO and the European Community now have common goals
with respect to the promotion of social protection.

letters.

With regard to development cooperation, the challenges facing the ILO and the Communities have evolved
considerably since the 1989 exchange of letters. It is a tribute not least to the advocacy of the ILO that the
international system as a whole is increasingly integrating social considerations into programmes and
strategies for economic development. This also serves to underscore the lasting importance of the 1995
World Summit for Social Development and its follow-up.

On the EU side, the Community aims, through its development cooperation policy in which equity is a
guiding principle, to foster sustainable development and to help developing countries to eradicate poverty
and to become integrated into the world economy. Indeed, the Community recently agreed that poverty
reduction should be the central objective of its development efforts. The ILO’s Decent Work agenda is also
a development agenda based on growth, employment and jobs. Development cooperation is one means of
action which the ILO uses to promote and realize its values while simultaneously responding to the
developmental needs of its member States.

Against this background, the Commission and the ILO agree that it would be of benefit to both organ-
izations to develop their cooperation by focussing on the following priority areas:

(cid:151) The promotion of labour standards, notably with regard to the principles and rights set out in the

1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work;

(cid:151) The promotion of employment, notably through an exchange of information and experience on the
European Employment Strategy and the ILO’s efforts to create employment opportunities for women
and men;

(cid:151) Social dialogue, not least with a view to the possible dissemination of the lessons from the European

experience with social dialogue to other regions of the world;

30.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 156/9

(cid:151) The social and employment policy aspects of enlargement of the EU, notably with regard to social

dialogue;

(cid:151) Social protection, through targeted collaboration on selected themes; and

(cid:151) Development cooperation, notably with a view to strengthening the social dimension of development,

while also collaborating at the operational level in the service of sustainable development.

In order to develop cooperation in these and in other areas of mutual interest, the Commission and the
ILO confirm the usefulness of holding high-level meetings on an annual basis, alternately in Brussels and
Geneva, which will review existing cooperation and plan joint activities for the following year.

The following provisions of the 1989 exchange of letters will continue to apply:

(cid:151) The Community, represented by the Commission, will continue to be regularly invited to meetings of

the ILO’s International Labour Conference and of the Governing Body.

(cid:151) The Commission will, in turn and as appropriate, invite representatives of the International Labour
Office to meetings of the Commission at service level dealing with social and labour matters likely to
be of interest to the International Labour Organization.

(cid:151) The President of the Commission and the Director-General of the ILO, or their representatives, will
hold consultations on developments within their respective organizations which are likely to have
implications for cooperation between the two parties.

(cid:151) The appropriate form for the exchange of information or assistance in areas of shared interest can be
agreed upon on a case by case basis (visit, preparation of a document, working group, financing of
projects) by the programme managers concerned.

To facilitate cooperation through project financing, the ILO and the Commission will continue to hold
discussions with a view to establishing standard financial and administrative modalities for ILO implemen-
tation of Commission-funded projects.

There is no doubt that by sharing our experience, engaging in joint reflection on new approaches to
contemporary social issues and, where appropriate, pooling our expertise, we can both respond even more
effectively to the need to promote employment opportunities and to maintain and improve living and
working conditions worldwide.(cid:146)

I agree in full with the terms of this letter, since it is my belief that these arrangements will serve to ensure
the continuation of the harmonious collaboration which has existed between our institutions as well as the
re-inforcement of that collaboration.

Yours faithfully,

(. . .)