ILO Governing Body, 350th session - Review of the functioning of the Governing Body, identification of possible areas for improvement and arrangements and time frame for[...]

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ILO Governing Body, 350th session - Review of the functioning of the Governing Body, identification of possible areas for improvement and arrangements and time frame for results-based follow-up action - EU Statement

18.03.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

ILO Governing Body, 350^th session

4 March - 14 March 2024

Review of the functioning of the Governing Body, identification of possible areas for improvement and arrangements and time frame for results-based follow-up action

Geneva, 6 March 2024

EU Statement

Chair,

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

We align with the IMEC statement.

1. The European Union and its Member States thank the Office for the document that provides comprehensive information on previous reviews of the functioning of the Governing Body and presents possible areas for improvement.
2. We wish to express our commitment to identifying and acting on areas where the rules and practices of the Governing Body might need to be improved.
3. We reaffirm our support to ensuring a full, equal and democratic participation in the ILO's tripartite governance with gender balance.
4. We recall the main pillars of the 2011 reform package that remain relevant: full tripartite participation through the active engagement of all three groups, priority to policy and decision-making debates, appropriate space strategic discussions.
5. In framing the discussions, we want to safeguard important principles of the governance, such as the autonomy of all groups to control their own procedures and organization, and agenda-setting by consensus, to the extent possible.
6. Similarly, a fair representation requires that any grouping of governments or individual governments, whether regular or deputy GB member, should have speaking rights. In addition, the EU is open to engage on the Office's proposals in the non-paper, regarding the voting right for deputy GB members. Regarding the agenda-setting mechanism established in the reform package, we refer to the letter addressed to the Director General on 27 February by Namibia on behalf of Government Group. The ongoing discussions in the Government Group require more time and will continue after the GB session.
7. As to the way forward, we believe that it may be premature to set up a new working party, also because the GB's composition will change following the elections of the Governing Body in June 2024.
8. While remaining open to other views, we would rather support a discussion on reform proposals during specific sessions of the Governing Body. These discussions should be based on concrete proposals to be identified through tripartite consultations and specific intersessional consultations. We encourage prior briefings to constituents and consultation on controversial issues in order to facilitate consensus-building The Office would be asked to provide the corresponding substantive analysis, in due time prior to consultations and GB discussions. Any decision should be based on consensus.
9. We also stand ready to address pending issues from the last reform package.
10. The EU and its Member States underline that any discussion on the delegation of authority granted by the ILC to the Governing Body must not call into question the decisions taken by the Governing Body. It is on the ILC to review existing delegations of authority.

Thank you, Chair.