92002E0697

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0697/02

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 March 2002)

Subject: The EU's objectives in the ILO world commission

The ILO has set up a world commission to consider the relationships between globalisation, the liberalisation of trade and social development. Naturally these issues are also important to the EU.

One of the chairs of the world commission is the president of an EU Member State, Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland.

The world commission intends to report its findings in March 2003.

What are the EU's objectives in connection with the world commission's work?

Are there any plans for debating the objectives and/or the world commission's conclusions with the European Parliament?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2002)

The Commission fully supports the establishment by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation and has also expressed its interest in contributing to its work.

The World Commission can help the international community to better understand the complex interface between globalisation, trade liberalisation, poverty reduction, social development and decent work, including core labour standards. The World Commission could also propose innovative and effective approaches and initiatives in order to strengthen the social dimension of globalisation. The Commission hopes that the international community will then be better equipped to harness globalisation and maximise the economic and social benefits of globalisation and trade. The World Commission should seek the contribution of other international organisations such as World Trade Organisation (WTO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), etc. in order to develop an integral and comprehensive approach.

The World Commission will address its report to the ILO in 2003. Decisions on new initiatives and actions remain with the ILO Governing Body and the International Labour Conference which are composed of Member States on a tripartite basis.

The Commission contributes actively to the social dimension of globalisation. On 18 July 2001, it adopted a Communication on promoting core labour standards and strengthening social governance in the context of globalisation(1) and a Green Paper on Corporate Social Responsibility(2) which are being discussed by the Parliament.

The cooperation with the ILO has been intensified and a new exchange of letters between the Commission and the ILO was signed on 14 May 2001 in order to strengthen the cooperation. A high level meeting between the Commission and the ILO on 14 February 2002 launched a new phase of cooperation including technical and development cooperation on core labour standards, capacity building, poverty reduction, social dialogue, social protection and decent work.

(1) COM(2001) 416 final.

(2) COM(2001) 366 final.