BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

The EU continues to attach great importance to promoting human rights in the context of business and trade and strives to engage all social partners in efforts to improve respect for human rights, including social rights and labour standards in order to achieve a more sustainable and equitable development. European Community agreements with third countries such as the Cotonou agreement with the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific countries) include provisions for cooperation in the area of trade and internationally agreed core labour standards. Moreover, the Community's own instrument in the "social incentive arrangements" of the Generalised System of Preferences provides for additional preferences to be extended to countries effectively applying certain International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.

Improving social governance globally is an important element of the strategy, building on the recognition that global governance is currently imbalanced and calling for a strengthening of its social pillar. In concrete terms, the communication suggests strengthening ILO enforcement instruments and technical assistance. The EU therefore welcomes and supports the creation in the ILO of a World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation to address the issue in a comprehensive manner.