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The European Social Charter is a Council of Europe treaty which guarantees social and economic human rights. It was adopted in 1961 and revised in 1996.
The European Committee of Social Rights rules on the conformity of the situation in States with the European Social Charter, the 1988 Additional Protocol and the Revised European Social Charter.

FOCUS

Exchange of views with the President of the Court, Mr. Dean Spielmann

[14/05/2013] The European Committee of Social Rights held an exchange of views with Mr. Dean Spielmann, President of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr. Spielmann emphasised the indivisibility of human rights and the complementarity between the Court and the Committee, maintaining that both mechanisms are necessary to guarantee the protection of human rights. Views were exchanged on a wide range of topics, including recent developments pertaining to the Convention and the Charter, the future of social rights protection under both instruments, the impact of austerity measures taken by the States Parties and relations with the European Union and other international bodies. Mr. Spielmann expressed his hope that the dialogue between the Court and the Committee could continue and develop further in the future and he looked forward to resuming the exchanges on an annual basis.

European Committee of Social Rights

Session of the European Committee of Social Rights in StrasbourgThe 265th session of the Committee will be held from 1 to 5 July 2013.


 


Conclusions 2012 of the European Committee of Social Rights are public

It is now possible to consult Conclusions 2012 and Conclusions XX-1 (2012) by State Party. These conclusions contain the assessments of the European Committee of Social Rights on the application of the Charter covering Charter rights pertaining to "employment, training and equal opportunities". Conclusions were adopted for the first time with respect to Montenegro, the Russian Federation and Serbia.  (more information) 

The Committee of Ministers adopts two resolutions with regard to Conclusions 2011 et Conclusions XIX-4 (2011)

Resolution CM/Res/ChS (2013) 4 concerning the application of the 1961 European Social Charter (Conclusions XIX-4 (2011) and Resolution CM/Res/ChS(2013)5 concerning the application of the European Social Charter (revised), were adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 27 March 2013 at the 1166th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies. These conclusions concern provisions relating to "Children, families, migrants".

Collective Complaints

A recently registered collective complaint submitted by Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) against Sweden is on line

- Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) v. Sweden, Complaint No. 99/2013)

The Committee of Ministers has adopted a new Resolution

Following the decision on the merits adopted on 30 June 2011 by the European Committee on Social Rights in the case European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) against Portugal, Complaint No.61/2010, the Committee of Ministers has adopted Resolution CM/ResChS(2013)7 on 10 April 2013

Two decisions on the merits of the European Committee of Social Rights in the complaints Central Association of Carers in Finland v. Finland,  Nos. 70/2011 and 71/2011, are public

[22/04/2013] The decision on the merits adopted by the European Committee of Social Rights in the case The Central Association of Carers in Finland v. Finland, Complaint No. 70/2011, became public on 22 April 2013 and concerns the right of elderly persons to social protection, which according to the complainant organisation, is not effectively applied throughout the country. Decision on the merits No.70/2011 Summary of the decision on the merits (more information)

The decision on the merits of the European Committee on Social Rights in the case The Central Association of Carers in Finland v. Finland, Complaint No. 71/2011, became public on 22 April 2013 and concerns the right of elderly persons to social and medical assistance, social services and social, legal and economic protection, which, according to the complainant organisation, are violated by Finland. Decision on the merits No.71/2011 Summary of the decision on the merits  (more information)

[22/04/2013] Five decisions on the merits of the European Committee of Social Rights concerning pension schemes in Greece are public

 - Federation of Employed Pensioners of Greece (IKA–ETAM) v. Greece, Complaint No. 76/2012
- Panhellenic Federation of Public Service Pensioners (POPS) v. Greece, Complaint No. 77/2012
- Pensioners’ Union of the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways (I.S.A.P.) v. Greece, Complaint No. 78/2012,
- Panhellenic Federation of Pensioners of the Public Electricity Corporation (POS-DEI) v. Greece, Complaint No. 79/2012
- Pensioner’s Union of the Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE) v. Greece, Complaint No. 80/2012,

In these cases, the complainant trade unions allege that recent legislation introduced by the Government of Greece from May 2010 onwards impose a reduction in pension schemes, both in the private and public sectors, and is in violation of Articles 12§3 (Right to social security) and 31§1 (Restrictions) of the 1961 Charter (more information).

For more information please consult the Collective Complaints website

Recent events

Meeting on the European Social Charter held in Ankara, Turkey

[03/05/2013] A meeting was held in Ankara on 6 May 2013, in order to provide information on the provisions of the Charter not yet accepted by Turkey.  This meeting was attended by two members of the European Committee of Social Rights, Prof. Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the Committee, and Mr. Ruchan Isik, as well as Mr. Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter. Programme

Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights participated in the 6th Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting in Vienna

[24/04/2013] The 6th Fundamental Rights Platform Meeting, organised by the Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union, is being held in Vienna from 25 to 26 April 2013. This platform brings together participants in the agency’s network for cooperation as well as over 300 civil society organisations working on a variety of fundamental rights. On this occasion Prof. Luis Jimena Quesada, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, presented the collective complaint procedure.Prof. Jimena Quesada's speech Programme FRA website

 ENSACT Joint European Conference in Istanbul  - Social Action in Europe

[22/04/2013] The 3rd ENSACT Joint European Conference was held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 16 to 19 April 2013. This conference focussed on the theme "Social action in Europe: towards inclusive policy and practice". Mr Régis Brillat, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter, was a key speaker at this event.
Programme ENSACT website

See also

Complaints by year

 2013 | 2012 | 2011| 2010

  Collective complaints website

The Charter in the field

2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007


Calendar of Events for the 50th anniversary Interviews and Multimedia documents 2011

Theme factsheets

Roma rights
Migrant's rights
Children's rights
  Rights of people with disabilities
Right to education
Right to health
Equality between women and men

National reports Conclusions 2013

The Committee is currently examining national reports covering Charter rights related to health, social security and social protection. The deadline for submitting reports was 31/10/2012. (more information)

Reports have been submitted by the following States : Albania, Armenia, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Russian Federation,  Ukraine and United Kingdom.
 

Newsletter of the Committee
The March 2013 issue is now available
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Collective Complaints




The Revised Charter exists in 21 languages



The Social Charter at a glance
(for other languages click here)

Recent developments in the collective complaints procedure of the European Social Charter



Tell me, what is the European Social Charter?



 "Social Rights, human rights in everday life", poster and sticker

 

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