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The ILO and the European Commission held a high-level meeting in February 2002 to discuss cooperation on a range of social issues. They will cooperate in areas such as the social aspects of globalisation, the alleviation of poverty, employment policy, health and safety, social protection and social dialogue.
A high-level meeting between representatives of the European Commission and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) took place on 14 February 2002 to discuss cooperation on social issues. The meeting was based on cooperation agreed in an exchange of letters between the two organisations in May 2001.
The agenda of the meeting was divided into two parts. In the first, the social dimension of globalisation and cooperation between the EU and the ILO on the alleviation of poverty and on 'decent work' was discussed. The ILO stated that it was in the process of establishing a world commission on the social dimension of globalisation, which would involve other international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Bank (WB). For its part, the European Commission stated that it is willing to cooperate with the ILO on poverty reduction programmes in developing countries, on technical cooperation programmes, on mainstreaming trade and core labour standards in development policy and on the management of migration and social protection in China. The Commission had issued two documents in this area in July 2001 – a Communication on the promotion of core labour standards and better social governance (EU0107229F) and a Green Paper on greater corporate social responsibility (EU0107228F).
In addition, both the ILO and the Commission will 'reflect' on strengthening social dialogue and civil society in the framework of the stability pact for the Balkans.
The second part of the agenda covered:
The Commission noted that the EU employment strategy has 'effectively influenced' the ILO's 'global employment agenda' and its 'global alliance for employment'. Cooperation between the two organisations in this area will include the development of 'quality in work' indicators and reports on employment, productivity and labour market performance.
In the area of health and safety, both organisations are preparing new strategies. They are also looking at cooperation in the areas of social protection, social exclusion and migration. In the area of social dialogue, the two organisations will concentrate on the development of the social dialogue in the context of EU enlargement, restructuring and the sectoral social dialogue in industries affected by globalisation.
The Commission and the ILO concluded by deciding to establish contact points which they hope will ensure an effective follow-up to their meeting. These contact points will report to an annual high-level meeting.