Deputy Secretary General

“The social and economic rights guaranteed by the European Social Charter are fundamental rights which parallel and complement the civil and political rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.  Now, that socio-economic rights are less well-protected in Europe, the Charter represents a vital guarantee in terms of upholding the European social model and safeguarding the exercise of democracy in Europe”, declared today Gabriella Battaini Dragoni, at the press-conference (in the photo with the Mayor of Turin, Piero Fassino), launching the European Social Charter international conference (Turin, October 17^th – 18^th).  Deputy Secretary General underlined the relevance of this “Social Summit”, organised in the context of the Italian Presidency of the European Union and with the co-operation of the City of Turin.

The main subjects to be discussed will be:

1. Synergies between the law of the European Union and the European Social Charter;
2. The contribution made by the Social Charter’s collective complaints procedure to respect for social rights in Europe;
3. Austerity measures in times of crisis: impact on social rights, participation by citizens, and the European Social Charter’s contribution to overcoming the crisis.