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EU Statement - ILO Governing Body 353rd Session - The Director General’s Programme and Budget proposals for 2026–27

10.03.2025
Geneva
Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

ILO Governing Body, 353rd session

10 – 20 March 2025

The Director General’s Programme and Budget proposals for 2026–27

GB.353/PFA/1

EU Statement


Chair,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina1 and the EFTA country Norway, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.

  1. The EU and its member states align with the statement made by IMEC.
  2. We would like to thank the Office for the ILO Programme and Budget proposals for 2026-2027. As in November we would like to comment on the ILO’s work to address all forms of discrimination in employment and occupation and to promote equal opportunities for all.
  3. The respective text of the P&B proposals contains compromise language we all agreed upon after difficult and lengthy discussions, stretching over two consecutive GBs and the 111th ILC, with concessions made by all parties. We trust all constituents will find common grounds on the text as proposed in para 163 and indicator 5.1.2 of the document before us, in full respect of the 2023 ILC decision. It is essential to ensure a smooth adoption of the ILO P&B at the next International Labour Conference in June – and avoid discussions on substance in the Finance Committee, which do not fall within its mandate and where social partners are not included.
  4. We would also like to recall that the term “discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity” has been used since the ILO’s Programme and Budget 2018-2019, in addition to other terms, which have been deleted in the Programme and Budget 2024-2025. Therefore, in the absence of agreement on alternative language, we should keep the existing language rather than delete it.
  5. Non-discrimination and equality are at the core of human rights, and constitute a founding value of the ILO, a fundamental principle and right at work. They lie at the heart of social justice. For this reason, we echo the conviction expressed by the DG in his letter to the Chair of the Government Group from last August: I quote: “…the work of the Office shall continue addressing any form of discrimination, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity,” end of quote.
  6. Combating violence and discrimination in the world of work, in any form and regardless of ground, is essential to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Fundamental principles and rights at work are human rights and as such universal and inalienable, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and it is the duty of States, regardless of their political and economic systems or cultural, traditional or religious values, to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
  7. We find it important to ensure that countries, have the opportunity to request the necessary, invaluable support of the ILO. In the P&B we need concrete details on the ILO’s targeted measures on non-discrimination to fully and transparently deliver on its mandate. This goes beyond a narrow interpretation of the listings provided for in Convention 111.
  8. We would also want to underline that the P&B is not, by its nature, subject to detailed textual negotiations or amendments by constituents. Drafting the P&B is the prerogative of the Office, which must reflect the work the ILO should continue to do to combat all forms of discrimination, while upholding the ILO’s mandate, including the fundamental principle of eliminating discrimination in employment and occupation.
  9. As stated in EU Council Conclusions of 27 January 2025, I quote: “The EU will continue to strongly oppose and step up action to combat all forms of discrimination, with specific attention to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on grounds of sex, race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity” end of quote.
  10. We will continue to support the ILO’s work to protect all persons from discrimination in the world of work.

Thank you, Chair.

 

1 North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.