The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a General Protocol of Action this Friday with the UGT, CCOO, CEOE, and CEPYME to strengthen collaborative work on cooperation for sustainable development.
The agreement was signed this Friday by the State Secretary for International Cooperation, Eva Granados, at the Ministry headquarters, after which the first meeting of the Joint Commission on International Cooperation for Sustainable Development took place.
Participants in the meeting included the State Secretary, the Secretary General of the CEOE, José Alberto González-Ruiz Martínez; the Secretary General of CEPYME, María Teresa Gómez Condado; the Secretary of International Policy of the UGT, Jesús Gallego; and the Confederal Secretary for International Affairs and Cooperation of the CCOO, Cristina Faciaben.
The General Protocol of Action aligns with the 2023 Law on Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity, which establishes the commitment to foster partnerships and alliances with both trade unions and business organizations “to promote open, equitable, and democratic societies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fundamental principles and rights at work in the cooperation partner countries,” according to the Foreign Ministry press release.
The areas of action for these alliances include the promotion and defense of labor and trade union rights, decent work, the strengthening of trade unions in developing countries, and the promotion of dialogue, social consensus, and the democratic participation of workers.
The agreement also encompasses the improvement of value chains, the supply of goods and services, technical assistance (including that provided by consulting firms), financial cooperation, impact investing, research and innovation for sustainable development, and the defense of the environment and human and labor rights.
