ILO Governing Body, 356th session - EU Statement - Follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO[...]

ILO Governing Body, 356th session - EU Statement - Follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus

European Union Statement

ILO Governing Body, 356^th session

23 March - 2 April 2026

________

Follow-up to the resolution concerning the measures recommended by the Governing Body under article 33 of the ILO Constitution on the subject of Belarus

GB.356/INS/12

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Geneva, 30 March 2026

Chair,

I speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova as well as the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

We thank the Office for the comprehensive report.

Last November, the GB, once again, urged the Belarusian authorities to take urgent steps to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and the subsequent recommendations of the supervisory bodies under ILO Conventions Nos 87 and 98, and to fully cooperate with the ILO Special Envoy. Yet the authorities have neither reviewed their position nor provided any substantive information demonstrating progress.

We remain gravely concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. Independent unions remain eradicated and any involvement with them is criminalized.

Belarus continues to rank among the countries with the highest per capita number of political prisoners, many of whom are held in appalling conditions. More than 900 people are still unjustly detained in inhumane conditions of detention.

We welcome the releases of political prisoners, including trade unionists. The release of 250 political prisoners almost two weeks ago was a signal of willingness to take step forward. Nonetheless, we note with deep concern that many of those released have not been exonerated, were forcibly deported from Belarus, left without means of subsistence and had their passports confiscated. Those allowed to stay in Belarus, including 235 political prisoners recently released, remain under strict surveillance and face restrictions that hinder their reintegration. This means their punishment continues even after the release.

We deplore the new arrests and re-arrests of political prisoners, as well as the transnational repression of former prisoners and their families.

We are deeply concerned about reports of political retaliation against businesses and employers who have supported peaceful protests or spoken out about human rights violations.

The EU reiterates that all political prisoners must be immediately and unconditionally released and rehabilitated, their civil and political rights fully restored, and all charges should be dismissed. We urge the Belarusian authorities to refrain from further arbitrary arrests and to ensure the right to due process and a fair trial.

We strongly denounce legislative developments that entrench repression, including measures restricting access to certain professions for former political prisoners. We urge the Belarusian authorities to refrain from adopting them.

We echo the Committee of Experts, which in its recent report deplored the absence of any progress in implementing the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and urged Belarus to fully cooperate with the ILO and the Special Envoy. We reiterate our call to the Belarusian authorities to accept the humanitarian and tripartite missions without further delay. We look forward to the forthcoming findings of the Committee on Freedom of Association.

We commend the engagement of the Special Envoy, who continues the dialogue with the social partners and relevant stakeholders. We support his work and urge Belarus to engage constructively with him, including by granting him full and unhindered access necessary to carry out his mandate. It is regrettable that, despite the Special Envoy's good-faith efforts to initiate a dialogue first with the Belarusian authorities, they declined to engage, subsequently raising accusations concerning his contacts with other partners.

We encourage the ILO and the Special Envoy to continue close cooperation with other UN agencies and mechanisms in order to ensure coordinated and effective international action.

In view of the Credentials Committee's considerations at the 114^th ILC, we note yet another indication on FPB's lack of independence from the Belarusian authorities.

The EU and its Member States, once again, demand that the Belarusian regime stops its involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and that it fully implements, without further delay, the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and the subsequent recommendations of the supervisory bodies.

Until tangible and verifiable progress is made, the EU will continue to strongly support the follow-up to the ILC resolution of 2023 under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution.

With that, we support the decision point.

Thank you, Chair.

1. ^ North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.