Agreement concerning Co-operation between the International Labour Organisation
and the European Coal and Steel Community

The European Coal and Steel Community and the International Labour Organisation, desiring to provide a satisfactory basis for the further development of the already existing collaboration between them with a view to making a maximum contribution to economic expansion, the development of employment and the improvement of the standard of living ; and having recognised that in view of the supra-national character of the European Coal and Steel Community such collaboration presents problems of a new character for which solutions must be found progressively in the light of experience, have agreed to put into force on an experimental basis the present agreement dealing with mutual consultation and co-operation between the International Labour Organisation and the European Coal and Steel Community:

Mutual Consultation

1. The International Labour Organisation and the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community will consult regularly on matters of common interest for the purpose of realising their objectives in the social and labour fields and eliminating all unnecessary duplication of work.

Consultation with Organs of the International Labour Organisation
and of the Community

2. The Governing Body of the International Labour Office may invite the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community to appoint a representative to consult with the Governing Body of the International Labour Office or any other appropriate organ or meeting of the International Labour Organisation on any matter of common interest.

The High Authority may likewise invite a representative of the International Labour Organisation to consult with the High Authority or any other appropriate organ or meeting of the European Coal and Steel Community on any matter of common interest.

Statistical and Legislative Information

3. The International Labour Organisation and the High Authority will combine their efforts to obtain the best use of statistical and legislative information and to ensure the most effective utilisation of their resources in the assembling, analysis, publication and diffusion of such information, subject to such arrangements as may be necessary for safeguarding the confidential character of any part of this information, with a view to reducing the burden on the governments and other organisations from which such information is collected.

Exchange of Information and Documents

4. Subject to such arrangements as may be necessary for the safeguarding of confidential material, the fullest and promptest exchange of information and documents concerning matters of common interest shall be made between the International Labour Organisation and the European Coal and Steel Community.

5. The High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community will be kept informed by the International Labour Organisation of developments in the work of the Organisation which are of interest to the Community.

6. The International Labour Organisation will be kept informed by the High Authority of developments in the work of the Community which are of interest to the International Labour Organisation.

Industrial Committees

7. The Governing Body of the International Labour Office will invite the High Authority to appoint a representative to attend as an observer meetings of the Coal Mines Committee and of the Iron and Steel Committee of the International Labour Organisation and will communicate to the High Authority for its information resolutions and conclusions adopted by these Committees which the Governing Body has decided to communicate to the Members of the Organisation.

The High Authority will take into consideration the possible bearing on its activities of such resolutions and conclusions communicated to it for its information.

Consultative Meetings

8. In the event of the need for such meetings arising, the High Authority may consult the International Labour Organisation concerning the modalities of their co-operation in respect of any tripartite meetings of governments, employers and workers which it may be desirable to convene to consider certain European problems of interest to the European Coal and Steel Community.

Technical Assistance

9. Whenever desirable for the development of its activities, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community may ask the International Labour Organisation for technical assistance on matters within the sphere of the International Labour Organisation, including for instance the improvement of living and working conditions of the labour force in the coal and steel industries, wages policy, vocational training, re-employment of workers displaced by the evolution of the market or by technical transformations, industrial safety, social security and labour statistics, and on any other questions of common interest to the two organisations.

10. The International Labour Organisation will make every effort to give all appropriate technical assistance to the European Coal and Steel Community in regard to such matters in a manner to be agreed in such cases as may arise.

Financing of Special Services

11. If compliance with a request for technical assistance made to the International Labour Organisation by the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community would involve substantial expenditure for the International Labour Organisation, the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community will be prepared to reimburse such expenditure on a basis to be agreed in each case.

Administrative Arrangements

12. The Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Chairman of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community will make appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure effective collaboration and liaison between the staffs of the two organisations.

Supplementary Arrangements

13. The International Labour Organisation and the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community will, through their respective representatives, from time to time review the progress made in establishing effective co-operation between the International Labour Organisation and the European Coal and Steel Community.

They will examine such supplementary arrangements as may be found desirable in the light of the operating experience of the two organisations as well as any amendments to be made to the present agreement, in accordance with evolving circumstances and the practical needs of the two organisations.

Any proposals for amendment or supplementary arrangements will be submitted to the Governing Body of the International Labour Office and to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community.

Entry into Force

14. The present agreement will enter into force as soon as the Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Chairman of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community have notified each other of the approval of the agreement by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office and the High Authority of the Community.

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Published in: Official Bulletin of the ILO, Vol. XXXVI, 1953, No. 7