Chair,

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

The Candidate Countries Albania*, Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia*, and Montenegro*, the potential candidate country Georgia, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway align themselves with this statement.

1. Director General, seven months have passed since we first came together at the March Governing Body to discuss Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which is not only a gross violation of international law, human rights, humanitarian principles, as well as an attack on democracy and freedom, but also entirely incompatible with the ILO’s values and principles. Seven months ago, we passed a resolution in this Body, which strongly condemned Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful attack on these values, and that remains just as pertinent. Seven months later, we convene once again with deep concern about the deterioration of the situation. Russia unilaterally declared the annexation of about 15 percent of Ukraine's territory. The risk of the possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia is the highest since the end of the cold war.
2. We are appalled by Russia’s intensification of attacks against civilians and civilian facilities, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. More than a third of Ukraine’s power stations have been disabled. Russia must be held accountable for these violations, which are causing unspeakable harm and suffering for civilians.
3. There is hope in the courage and determination of the Ukrainians who continue to fight for their country in the face of immense loss and continued danger every day. The EU remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. A country that we can now proudly count as a candidate for European Union membership.
4. By wilfully undermining the rules-based international order and blatantly and repeatedly violating Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russia is putting global peace and security at risk. We repeat our call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease its military actions, to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukraine, and to fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders.
5. In these grave times, we commend the ILO for its important role in providing support to the tripartite constituents in Ukraine and in the many other affected countries in the region, and we express our gratitude specifically to the ILO staff in Ukraine that continues doing indispensable work. We also underscore our continued support for the ILO’s work at the centre of the response to this crisis and its global implications including through Humanitarian-Peace-Development Nexus. We re-affirm our call on the ILO to continue to cooperate with the wider UN system on a coherent policy response to this aggression.
6. Director General, we thank you for your report on the evolving situation in Ukraine and for your assessment of the current state of affairs. We are deeply concerned about the reports of attacks on and threats to fundamental human rights, including labour rights, in the regions of Ukraine illegally annexed by Russia, and especially about the reports of war crimes committed. We are especially concerned about the situation of workers in these regions, which face various interlocking types of threats to their employment and income, and are particularly worried by the possibilities of forced labour in Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. We ask the ILO to take on an active role in the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure the protection of labour rights and ensure that social partners can continue to play their essential roles in resolving the critical situation on the ground.
7. We re-affirm the need to stay actively seized on the rapidly developing situation.
8. Given the above, the EU and its Member States propose amendments to the draft decision point, including the oral amendments just read out by Lithuania.

Thank you, Chair.

*Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia and Montenegro continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.