[ Last update: 09/02/2010]

FOCUS 

Seminar in Athens on the role of the European Committee of Social Rights
 <03/02/2010> A Seminar on “The role of the European Committee of Social Rights” organised by the International Society of Labour Law and Social Security, was held in Athens (Greece).  Mr Petros STANGOS, member of the Committee, gave a presentation of the collective complaints procedure, and Mr Régis BRILLAT, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter, spoke of the influence of the Committee on domestic law in the States Parties to the Charter.
 

Fédération européene des Associations nationales travaillant avec les Sans-abri (FEANTSA) v. Slovenia (Complaint no. 53/2008)
 <1 February 2009> In a decision which became public on 1 February 2010, the European Committee of Social Rights found that reforms of the Slovenian Government in the field of housing have placed tenants in dwellings that were restituted to their former private owners in a precarious situation in breach of Article 31 of the Revised Charter.
 Summary of Complaint 53/2008
Decision on the merits 53/2008

Publication of the Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights
<27 January 2010> The European Committee of Social Rights published its Conclusions in respect of 36 States Parties to the Charter. These Conclusions concern the rights related to health, social security and social protection. (more ...)
 

Hearing on the European Social Charter held at the Council of States in Bern (Switzerland)
<14 January 2010> At its session of 11 January 2009, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of States held a hearing on the European Social Charter. On this occasion, Mr Régis BRILLAT, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter, was invited to present the Revised Charter.
Presentation of Mr Brillat (French only)
 

Two collective complaints declared admissible by the European Committee of Social Rights
<16 December 2009> It is now possible to consult the decisions on admissiblity for Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) v Italy, no. 58/2009 and for European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)/ Centrale Générale des Syndicats Libéraux de Belgique (CGSLB)/ Confédération des Syndicats chrétiens de Belgique (CSC)/ Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique (FGTB) v. Belgium, no. 59/2009, on line.
In the first complaint it is alleged that Italy is in violation of Articles 16 (the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection), 19 (right of migrant workers and their families to protection and assistance), 30 (right to protection against poverty and social exclusion) and 31 (right to housing), read alone or in conjunction with Article E (non discrimination) of the Revised Charter.
In the second complaint it is alleged that the situation in Belgium is not in conformity with the rights laid down in Article 6§4 (right to strike) of the Revised Charter.
Complaint no. 58/2009
Complaint no. 59/2009
Please consult the page on Collective Complaints for further information.
 

Action Plan Seminar held in Krasnodar (Russian Federation)
<03 December 2009>  Following the recent ratification of the Revised Charter by the Russian Federation, a seminar took place in Krasnodar from 15-16 December 2009, in order to provide comprehensive information to the authorities of the Russian Federation with a view to a wider application of the European Social Charter.   Mr Colm O'CINNEIDE, Vice President of the European Committee of Social Rights and Mr Régis BRILLAT, Head of the Department of the European Social Charter attended this seminar, as well as Ms Elena VOKACH-BOLDYREVA, Department for International Cooperation, Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation.
Draft programme

Round Table on the Social Rights of Persons of Concern to UNHCR
<08 December 2009> A Round Table entitled “The Social Rights of Refugees, Asylum Seekers and International Displaced Persons: a comparative perspective (1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, European Convention of Human Rights, European Social Charter)” organised by the UNHCR Representation to the European Institutions in Strasbourg and the Department of the European Social Charter (Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs) was held in  Strasbourg on 7 December 2009.   
More information 
Background note on the colloquy
Programme
 

 Collective Complaints

Recent decisions on the merits
- European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) v. Bulgaria (No. 48/2008)
The Committee concluded that Bulgaria was in violation of the Revised Charter.
-  European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) v. Bulgaria (No. 46/2007)
The Committee concluded that Bulgaria was in violation of the Revised Charter.
- International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS) v. Croatia
The Committee concluded that Croatia was in violation of the 1961 Charter.

-  Sindicato dos Magistrados do Ministério Público (SMMP) v. Portugal (No. 43/2007)
-  International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) v. Ireland (No. 42/2007)
-  European Council of Police Trade Unions (CESP) v. Portugal (No. 40/2007)
With regard to the above three complaints the Committee concluded that the States Parties were not in violation of the Revised Charter.

Recent decisions on admissibility
- Confédération Française de l’Encadrement «CFE-CGC» c. France (No. 56/2009) - admissible
- European Council of Police Trade Unions v. France (No. 57/2009) - admissible
- Confédération générale du travail v. France (No. 55/2008) - admissible
- European Council of Police Trade Unions (CESP) v. France (No. 54/2008) - admissible
- International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights v. Croatia (No. 52/2008) - admissible

Recent complaints
- European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)/ Centrale Générale des Syndicats Libéraux de Belgique (CGSLB)/ Confédération des Syndicats chrétiens de Belgique (CSC)/ Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique (FGTB) v. Belgium (No. 59/2009), registered on 22 June 2009.
- Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) v. Italy (No. 58/2009) registered on 29 May 2009
- European Council of Police Trade Unions (CESP) v. France (No. 57/2009) , registered on 7 May 2009
- Confédération Française de l’Encadrement (CFE-CGC) v. France (No. 56/2009), registered on 4 May 2009

Adopted text
The Committee of Ministers adopted  Resolution CM/ResChS(2009)7 with regard to the complaint International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights (INTERIGHTS) v. Croatia (no. 45/2007) on 21 October 2009.

Consult the Collective Complaint webpage for a comprehensive list of complaints and the relevant documents

Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights

Adoption of Committee of Ministers resolutions with regard to Conclusions 2007 / XVIII-2 of the European Social Charter
At the 1052nd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies, held on 25 March 2009, the Committee of Ministers adopted Resolutions CM/ResChS(2009)4 on the implementation of the European Social Charter during the period 2001-2004 (Conclusions XVIII-2, second part, “non-hard core” provisions) and CM/ResChS(2009)5 on the implementation of the European Social Charter (revised) during the period 2001-2004 (Conclusions 2007, "non-hard core" provisions).
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The conclusions for the European Social Charter (revised) and the 1961 Charter may now be consulted on line by volume and by State.
Conclusions 2008 and XIX-1
Conclusions by State

Recent Signatures and Ratifications

<06 November 2009> Croatia signs the Revised European Social Charter

<16 October 2009> Russia ratifies the Revised European Social Charter

<14 September 2009> Serbia ratifies the European Social Charter (revised)

<10/06/2009> Turkey  ratifies the 1991 Protocol amending the European Social Charter (CETS No. 142)

<27/05/2009> "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" signs the European Social Charter (revised)
 

Table of signatures and ratifications
Accepted provisions