Conclusions concerning the Relations between the International Labour Organisation
and the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation

On 8 November 1955 the Director-General of the I.L.O. and the Secretary-General of the O.E.E.C. agreed on the text of conclusions concerning relations between their respective organisations ⁽¹⁾. The exchange of correspondence which took place in this connection and the text of the conclusions are reproduced below.

Letter from the Director-General of the International Labour Office to the
Secretary-General of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation

Geneva, 8 November 1955.

Dear Mr. Sergent,

I am glad to confirm that the attached document contains the Conclusions reached at the recent consultations between myself, Mr. Colonna and certain members of our staffs regarding the development of the relations between the International Labour Office and the Secretariat of the O.E.E.C.

I warmly welcome this further step towards the strengthening of co-operation between our respective Organisations.

I will keep you informed of the action taken by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office concerning the question of attendance of O.E.E.C. observers at meetings of the International Labour Organisation dealing with issues of common concern mentioned in paragraph 3 (e) of the Conclusions. Would you be good enough to let me know in due course of the action of your Council with regard to the question of attendance of I.L.O. observers at meetings of your Organisation.

Sincerely,

(Signed) David A. MORSE,
Director-General.

Letter from the Secretary-General of the Organisation for
European Economic Co-operation to the Director-General of the International Labour Office

Paris, 8 November 1955.

Dear Mr. Morse,

I am glad to confirm that the attached paper contains the Conclusions reached at the recent consultations between you, Mr. Colonna and certain members of our staff regarding the development of the relations between the International Labour Office and the Secretariat of the O.E.E.C.

I trust that the measures that are envisaged will further strengthen the co-operation between our Organisations.

I should be very grateful if you would keep me informed of the action taken by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office concerning the question of attendance of O.E.E.C. observers at meetings of the International Labour Organisation dealing with issues of common concern mentioned in paragraph 3 (e) of the Conclusions. For my part, I shall not fail to inform you of the action taken by the Council of my Organisation with regard to the attendance of I.L.O. observers at the meetings of the Organisation.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed) René SERGENT,
Secretary-General

TEXT OF THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE I.L.O. AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE O.E.E.C. CONCERNING RELATIONS BETWEEN THEIR RESPECTIVE ORGANISATIONS
(Geneva, June 1955)

1. In the course of an exchange of views which took place on 27 June 1955, and was completed in September of that year, between the Director-General of the I.L.O. and Mr. G. Colonna, Deputy Secretary-General of the O.E.E.C., and members of their staffs, concerning the development of relations between their respective Organisations, note was taken of the positive results achieved hitherto through mutual consultation and collaboration on matters of common concern, especially as regards manpower problems.

2. It was recognised that, in order to avoid duplication, overlapping and confusion, the field of mutual consultation should be widened in future and, in addition to activities of the two Organisations relating to manpower problems, should cover also other activities of common concern such as those relating to problems of productivity and, in particular, human relations in industry, as well as to problems concerning the possible incidence of disparities in the social policies of European countries on further progress in co-operation in the field of trade and payments.

Where appropriate, such consultations should lead to the formulation of proposals concerning the collaboration between the two Organisations on a specific problem.

3. To give effect to these Conclusions the Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Secretary-General of the O.E.E.C. have agreed as follows:

(a) The existing liaison arrangements between the International Labour Office and the Secretariat of the O.E.E.C. should be maintained and, where appropriate, improved.

(b) The International Labour Office and the Secretariat of the O.E.E.C. should continue to keep each other informed - by the transmission of documents or otherwise - of developments in the work of their Organisations which are of common interest. Safeguards should be provided to preserve the confidential character of restricted documents.

(c) Mutual consultation between the International Labour Office and the Secretariat of the O.E.E.C. should aim at the elaboration of the best forms of co-ordination with regard to the handling of matters of common interest. The International Labour Office will give prompt and sympathetic consideration to any request on behalf of the Secretary-General of the O.E.E.C. to undertake or participate in a Project of the European Productivity Agency.

(d) At least once a year members of the International Labour Office and the Secretariat of the O.E.E.C., from services concerned with matters of common interest to the two Organisations as well as with the liaison between them, should meet in Geneva or Paris and jointly proceed to a general review of the current activities and programmes of the two Organisations in relation to matters of common concern.

(e) The Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Secretary-General of the O.E.E.C. should request authority from the Governing Body and the Council, respectively, to invite observers to attend meetings of their Organisations whenever issues of common concern are on the agenda. The observers should have the right, with the permission of the Chairman of the meeting, to take part, without vote, in the discussion.

Letter from the Director-General of the International Labour Office to the
Secretary-General of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation

Geneva, 23 June 1955.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter (RS-227) of 8 November 1955, confirming that you agree with the Conclusions on the consultations that took place recently between the Secretariats of our two Organisations.

Your letter arrived after the meeting of the competent committee of the Governing Body and it therefore has not been possible to submit to the Governing Body, at its present session, the question of inviting observers from the O.E.E.C. to attend meetings on matters of common concern. You may rest assured, however, that I shall not fail to submit this question to the Governing Body at its next session and to inform you of the Governing Body's decision in this connection.

I have the honour to be, etc.,

(Signed) David A. MORSE,
Director-General.

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Published in: Official Bulletin of the ILO, Vol. XXXVIII, 1955, No. 7

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ARRANGEMENTS CONCERNING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC
CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development came into existence officially as the successor to the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation on 30 September 1961.

By an exchange of correspondence in June and July, 1961, between the Secretary-General of the O.E.E.C. and the Director-General of the International Labour Office, it was agreed that relations between the O.E.C.D. and the International Labour Organisation should retain the same form as those previously existing between the O.E.E.C. and the I.L.O.

The text of this correspondence, and of the original arrangements governing relations between the O.E.E.C. and the I.L.O. are given below.

Organisation for European Economic Co-operation

Paris, 9 June 1961.

Sir,

On 14th December, 1960. the eighteen Member Governments of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, in conjunction with the Governments of the United States of America and Canada, signed a Convention establishing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Article 15 of this Convention specifies that, in order to remain effective, decisions, recommendations, and resolutions of the O.E.E.C. Council shall require the approval of the O.E.C.D. Council.

All the Acts of the O.E.E.C. Council have been reviewed by a Preparatory Committee consisting of representatives of the twenty Governments concerned.

In my capacity as Secretary-General of the O.E.E.C. and Secretary-General Designate of the O.E.C.D., I have the honour to inform you that, subject to any necessary adjustments, the Preparatory Committee takes the view that the relations between your Organisation and the O.E.C.D. should retain the same form as those between your Organisation and the O.E.E.C.

These relations, originally established by a letter of 22nd June, 1948. are based on the principles laid down by a Decision adopted by the Council of the O.E.E.C. on 3rd June, 1948, amplified by a Decision of 5th August, 1948, and a Resolution of 13th January, 1956, which define the procedure for the application of those principles. Copies of these documents are attached hereto.

In order to enable me to submit any necessary new texts to the Preparatory Committee for subsequent adoption by the O.E.C.D. Council, I should like to know if you have any objection to maintaining the existing arrangements, as at present proposed.

I am, of course, at your disposal to consider with you any measures you may wish to suggest with a view to improving these arrangements or extending their scope.

I am attaching a copy of the Convention of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and I wish to draw your special attention to Article 12. It is on the basis of this Article that the Council of the O.E.C.D. will, with the full agreement of your Organisation, lay down the provisions governing the relations between our two Organisations, which will, I hope, continue to be as fruitful as in the past.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

(signed)
Thorkil Kristensen.
I.L.O.

Geneva, 27 July 1961.

Sir,

I have the honour to thank you for your letter of 9 June 1961 concerning relations between the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Labour Organisation.

I share the hope expressed in your letter that relations between our two Organisations will continue to be as fruitful as the relations between the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation and the International Labour Organisation have been in the past.

I note that the Preparatory Committee of O.E.C.D. takes the view that, subject to any necessary adjustments, the relations between O.E.C.D. and the International Labour Organisation should retain the same form as those between the O.E.E.C. and the International Labour Organisation.

I have no objection to these arrangements being maintained in their present form, but would suggest that they should be subject to reconsideration after a reasonable period with a view to improving them or extending their scope.

If there is any question which you would wish to consider further in the near future, I will, of course, be glad to discuss it with you.

I have the honour to be,

etc. etc.

(signed) David A. Morse.
Director-General.

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Published in: Agreements concluded between the International Labour Organisation and Other International Intergovernmental Organisations, Vol. II, Agreements with Regional Organisations, ILO, Geneva (no date)