Brussels, 12/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the plenary session of the international labour conference organised by ILO in Geneva, attended by German Federal Labour and Social Affairs Minister Franz Müntefering, Commissioner Vladimir Spidla announced that all EU member states had formally ratified the OIT's eight core labour conventions. At the start of March, only Estonia and the Czech Republic had not ratified, but this situation has now been rectified (see EUROPE 9376). Mr Spidla also said that the Commission had submitted, to the Council, a draft decision to accelerate the ratification of the recent maritime labour convention. He said he hoped the conference would adopt the fisheries labour convention and also substantial conclusions on ILO activities and its constituents on sustainable companies. In its internal and external initiatives, the Commissioner said, the Commission was supporting the development of the private sector and entrepreneurship. The contribution of business to sustainable development was essential, he added. (gb)