17. We consider that the following raises questions of political importance,
but make no recommendation for its further consideration:--
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
17928)
6086/97
COM(96)724
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Commission Communication: The European Union's follow-up to the World
Summit for Social Development. |
| Legal base: |
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The Communication
17.1 The Commission says that the purpose of the Communication is to look at what
follow-up action could be taken by the European Union to meet the commitments made at the World
Summit on Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995, under UN auspices. It acknowledges that
"the policies being implemented at Member State and Community level already go a long way
towards meeting the commitments made at Copenhagen", but proposes further follow-up in five
areas:
(i) incorporating social aspects into the international institutional
framework
(ii) incorporating respect for social rights, and promoting social
and human development, into bilateral agreements with third countries
(iii) incorporating the fight against poverty into development
action, and combating marginalisation within the Community
(iv) maintaining employment as the top economic and social priority;
and
(v) strengthening protection for immigrants, and countering racism.
17.2 In the section (1.2) in which it elaborates on (iii) above, the Commission says
that in its view:
"a good way to strengthen the social dimension in the Community's development aid,
particularly for the poorest countries, is by making good the understanding mooted in the Summit's
action programme whereby basic social programmes would, by joint agreement, receive one fifth of
the Community's public development aid and one fifth of developing countries' own public
spending."
The Government's view
17.3 In his Explanatory Memorandum (dated 13 March) the Minister of State at the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr Davis) says:
"Primary responsibility for implementing the Summit agreements lies at national level.
"On specific aspects of the Communication:
-- The Government is committed to eliminating forced labour and the exploitation
of children, and to raising social standards worldwide. It believes the best way to raise standards
in developing countries is to allow them to trade freely. The Government rejects any link between
trade measures and the promotion of internationally-recognised labour standards, and is opposed to
coercive trade action designed to impose such standards on developing countries. In view of this,
the Government does not see a case for closer co-operation between the ILO and WTO, but believes
that the guidelines in the Communication should be consistent with the agreement reached at the WTO
Ministerial, which was to continue existing contacts between the two organisations (sections 1.1
and 1.2).
-- The Government supports the promotion of ILO conventions covering basic social
rights, but is concerned to maintain its right, and that of other states, to decide whether or not
to ratify such conventions. It does not, therefore, support the proposal that the Community should
co-operate more closely with the ILO with a view to implementing programmes which ensure compliance
with ILO conventions. This would extend the Community's limited role as an observer in the ILO and
may enable it to claim competence over the rights of states to decide whether or not to be bound
by particular ILO conventions (section 1.2)
-- Although the Government supports greater focus on poverty reduction in
Community aid programmes, it does not favour strict adherence to the 20:20 initiative given that
Community aid allocations should be determined by the needs of recipients, not a rigid formula
(section 1.2)
-- The United Kingdom is unable to ratify the UN Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of Migrant Workers because its terms go beyond those contained in the Immigration
Rules in a number of specific areas. The Government also considers that the Convention goes beyond
the United Kingdom's international commitments and what is necessary to secure the interests of
migrant working here (section 1.5)
-- The policy of the Government is to restrict the number of non-EEA nationals
coming here for employment. The Government would therefore oppose any move to allow third-country
nationals resident in other Member States the right to work here (paragraph 1.5)."
Conclusion
17.4 Although Communications from the Commission frequently lay the groundwork
for later legislative proposals, in this case the suggestions are mainly for "dialogue"
and "co-operation". Should it attempt in due course to give legislative force to these
suggestions, the proposals will come before our successors for their consideration. We are,
therefore, clearing this discussion document.
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