European Union

Statement

International Labour Conference 111th session

Geneva, 5-16 June 2023

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Finance Committee Programme and Budget 2024-2025

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Geneva, 8 June 2023

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International Labour Conference

111th session Geneva, 5-16 June 2023

 

Chair, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

[The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia*, Moldova, Montenegro*, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, member of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.]

(We align with the statement read out by the United Kingdom on behalf of a group of countries.)

1. The Finance Committee’s mandate is to approve the budget level contained in the resolution put forward by the Governing Body last March in accordance with Article 11 of the Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference.

2. First and foremost, and I want to be very clear, that the EU and its MS would like to reiterate that we are committed to the adoption and implementation of the proposed Programme and Budget as approved by the 347th Governing Body in March.

3. While we deeply disagree with the Africa Group’s amendment, which seeks to dilute the ILO mandate to combat discrimination in the world of work on all grounds, we have listened and heard the importance for many in this Committee to recognize the divergence of views on various aspects of the P&B.

4. Therefore, together with other like-minded countries, we put forward a number of proposals to bridge the divide and secure consensus. We have been very open to meeting and working on language that would be consensual, proposing constructive ideas. Unfortunately, these proposals were not accepted.

5. We also heard that it was unacceptable for many in this group to amend the ILC resolution proposed by the GB, however, our proposal was to recognize the divergence of views on various aspects of the P&B instead in a decision point in the Finance Committee report to be presented to plenary.

6. The compromise would have ensured that the divergence of views was recognized in the Record of Proceedings. We know that no one would have been fully happy with that outcome – our ideal outcome would have been the adoption of the P&B in line with what was first proposed by the Office in November 2022. Nonetheless, we would have hoped that our proposals could have brought us to consensus in order to address the pressing need to ensure certainty for the ILO’s budget to continue its operations past 31 December.

7. Noting the importance of protecting the fundamental values of social justice and equality for all, which are at the foundation of the ILO, and the imperative to ensure the continued operations of the ILO after 31 December, we urge all States here today to vote ‘NO’ for this amendment.

Thank you, Chair.

[*Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.]