Brussels, 18/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a communication at the initiative of Anna Diamantopoulouu and Pascal Lamy in association with Poul Nielson. It is aimed at promoting core labour standards and social governance globally (see EUROPE of 16 and 17 July, p.10). The strategy proposed aims to help developing countries to apply these standards for their own social development and confirms the essential role of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
"The Commission has adopted a policy paper of principle, which is a major step towards clarifying our objectives", said Pascal Lamy, who presented the communication to the press. "The Commission is attached to respect of core labour rights everywhere in the world and strengthens our support to application of these fundamental rights and our commitment to help developing countries to apply them. The fundamental rights of workers as defined by the ILO must be supported by all. The communication reflects our own social values, our social agenda and other EU policies", commented the Commissioner. He added: "This policy paper is an appeal to the other European institutions, the social partners, third countries and enterprise. We hope that the social face of globalisation will be more present than at present". Stressing the "EU's growing concern about the social impact of globalisation", Anna Diamantopoulou noted that reference should be made to the notion of social governance in order to tackle this challenge. She specified the Commission's aims to: 1) hold an international enlarged debate concerning social norms and tackle this problem in other bodies; 2) have a strategy based on indications and use the ILO declaration as a base for work. Many ILO member countries are not able to promote effective social standards. We shall, she said, seek to make a contribution to building up this capacity in three ways: 1) role of the ILO, which should above all improve its control and surveillance systems; 2) role of the EU, which should give greater support to technical assistance aimed at promoting labour norms and taking its development policies into account and its relations with other countries, but which should also establish the possibility of allowing withdrawal from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) of a country when it violates workers' rights; 3) role of private sector (see other item on social accountability of companies).
A press release notes that this communication: 1) recommends a better balance of the world governance system, through strengthening and more effective application of ILO instruments and through the intensification of joint efforts by international organisations. Within the ILO, this implies defining measures for increasing the effectiveness of the control mechanism (mainly through better advertising and more performant follow-up) and discussing new incentive mechanisms for promoting respect of core labour standards, and a larger contribution to ILO technical assistance; 2) proposes the establishment of high level international dialogue with participation from the ILO, WTO, UNCTAD, the World Bank, UNDP, and which would make it possible to identify the best practices and policies that will strengthen the contribution of trade to social development in the world; 3) unreservedly rejects use of core labour standards to protectionist ends or in the aim of bringing into question the comparative advantage of low income developing countries.
As far as the measures to be taken at European level are concerned, the communication proposes more consistent use of various political instruments. Poverty and inadequate national governance structures are often the cause of social problems, which is why development aid tools play an essential role. It suggests: 1) integrating core labour standards in its development policy and strengthening the capacity of developing countries to apply this base; 2) that such standards should find their place in bilateral agreements between the EU and third countries; 3) improving the social incentive system for developing countries by making them more attractive for these countries and making assistance available to them to help them make the best use of possibilities provided by social incentives. Finally, the Commission recognises the importance of voluntary private initiatives that translate the social responsibility of companies that contribute increasingly to social development. This was the subject of the Green Paper also adopted on Wednesday by the College.