IOE engages with European Commissioner for International Partnerships and other European Commission activities

Update on IOE’s participation and engagement in key EU policy consultations.

IOE members from EU Neighbourhood and Africa are invited to take special note of this communication.

Background

As a key constituent of the EU Policy Forum on Development (PFD), IOE has consistently ensured that the voice of the business community is included in multi-stakeholder consultations on the implementation of the EU external cooperation and beyond.  

Conversation with Commissioner Urpilainen: “Partnering to keep the SDGs on track”

Before the EU presents its voluntary national review (EU VNR) during the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York in July 2023, IOE, along with a selected number of other stakeholders, engaged in a conversation with European Commissioner Urpilainen for International Partnerships on Tuesday 23 May 2023 on “Partnering to keep the SDGs on track”. The event was an exchange focused on identifying shared strategic objectives in the global context, discussed collective efforts to support SDG implementation, and exchange on the contribution of the Global Gateway to the SDGs.

In his intervention, IOE Deputy Secretary-General Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan recalled the well-established role of the IOE with its global network of Employer and Business Organisations, emphasized the importance of dialogue, and particularly of social dialogue as he acknowledged the presence of the International Trade Union Confederation. He highlighted six issues where efforts are needed:

1. Strengthening partnership and cooperation in the spirit of SDG17
2. Supporting multilateralism and enhanced solidarity
3. Ensuring policies and an enabling environment that fosters entrepreneurship and job creation
4. Engaging meaningfully with the business sector in structural transformations toward a more carbon-neutral and resilient economic model
5. Enhancing support for small and medium enterprises
6. Strengthening digital access and skills for all, with a specific mention of the IOE-Microsoft project Tech@Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Senegal and Uganda

DSG Bellion-Jourdan stated the IOE’s readiness to further collaborate with the European Commissioner, Commission services, and stakeholders. Along with IOE Head of Projects and Programmes Anetha Awuku, he plans to follow-up with meetings in Brussels and in New York on the margins of the HLPF.

Other activities with the European Commission

IOE members from the EU Neighbourhood, especially accession countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye) are invited to provide their comments on the survey of Financing for European action outside EU borders – evaluation of the instruments (2014-2020 & 2021-2027) in the EU survey.

We encourage members to fill out this survey and take the opportunity to request more funding from employers and business organisations in the region. Members from this region are also invited to learn more about the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPAIII). 

IOE Members from Africa are invited to review the follow up report of the 4th consultative discussion on the implementation of the EU regional multi-annual indicative programme for Sub-Saharan Africa that took place on 20 April, available in the "Resources" section. IOE Head of Projects and Programmes Anetha Awuku spoke at the session on Sustainable growth and decent jobs, digital, STI (including trade, circular economy and product safety). Ms Awuku along with invited stakeholders highlighted the relevance of the regional action plans for 2023 and the key areas for the formulation of regional initiatives including:

• Greater focus on work in the informal economy
• Importance of improving dialogue with regional stakeholders
• Importance of gendering the business support ecosystem
• Climate financing and access to finance for issues on adaptation
• Accesibility  of digital infrastructure  and data protection