AGREEMENT

Estonian Employers' Confederation (ETTK), Latvian Employers' Confederation (LDDK) and Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK) hereinafter referred to as "Parties" in accordance with their charters have agreed to the following:

Article I

Parties recognize the necessity:

• to promote the continued economic growth of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and increase their competitiveness in European and international markets;
• to create investment friendly business environment by co-operating in coordinated enforcement of EU legislation among Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia;
• to promote the continued co-operation of employers' organizations in the Baltic Sea Region;
• to strengthen the capacity of employers' organizations by establishing mutual cooperation in order to improve ability to represent employers' interests in the decision-making process in European and international level;

Article II

In order to implement the abovementioned, Parties agree about the following principles of joint activities:

• Exchange of information. Parties exchange the following information:
  O Position papers on European Commission's legislative initiatives;
  O Legislation initiatives introduced by Party;
  O Laws and other pieces of legislation transposing European Union directives (on request).
  
• Harmonization of positions on European Commission's legislative initiatives. Parties agree to harmonize utmost their positions on legislation initiatives discussed within the framework of tripartite consultations at European Commission and in the BUSINESSEUROPE in following areas:
  O Economic and financial affairs;
  O Industrial Affairs;
  O Employment and social affairs;
  O Education and training affairs;
  O EU Internal market;
  O International Relations.
  
• Promotion of co-operation between public administrations in harmonized enforcement of EU legislation between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Parties agree to do the utmost to promote administrative co-operation of both countries in co-operating in co-ordinated enforcement of EU legislation;
  
• Representation of employers' interests. Within the framework of tripartite consultations at European Commission Parties and within the framework of the BUSINESSEUROPE as well as the within the framework of The Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD undertake to represent the harmonized positions jointly or, in the case of absence of any of other Parties, represent them separately in the name of all Parties.

Article III

Recognising International Labour organisation (ILO) as one of the main institutions establishing international labour standards through its conventions and recommendations, Parties undertake to work in close cooperation representing employers' side at annual International Labour conferences.

Article IV

Seeking to advance responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalization, Parties undertake to promote United Nations Global Compact initiative and its ten principles by supporting and enacting a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption.

Article V

Parties undertake to promote establishment of direct business contacts between employers of the Baltic countries by providing information (on request):

• about sister organisations and/or companies;
• about legal framework.

Article VI

Parties undertake to promote co-operation among employersJ and industrial organisations (social partners at respective national level) in the Baltic Sea Region.

Article VII

In order to evaluate implementation of this agreement and to coordinate further activities Parties find it necessary to meet at least once per year at the level of executive officers. Meetings are held by each Party in rotation order.

Article VII

In consideration of the confidentiality Parties agree to keep all information related to the process of elaboration of official positions (drafts, working papers, letters, e-mails etc.) confidential and not available in any manner to third parties. Third parties are all those not involved with the execution of the agreement.

Article VIII

Parties agree to consider this Agreement as a lasting document the duration of which shall not be limited.

Article IX

Nevertheless this agreement can be terminated at any time by any of Parties giving other Parties one month notice in written form, in which the party specifies reasons of its action.

Article X

This Agreement is concluded in three identical copies - one copy to each Party.

Signed on 22 January, 2010 in Melotne (Latvia).