Gudrun Mosler-Törnström (Austria, SOC/G/PD), Standing Rapporteur on Human Rights of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, has welcomed the commitment of the local authorities in Sofia, Bulgaria, to develop a comprehensive, long-term social housing plan.
She visited Bulgaria on 3 June in the framework of a political dialogue initiated last year with the local and national authorities, with the aim to support the enforcement of several decisions of the European Court of Human Rights relating to housing. The delegation included Professor Nikos Chlepas (Greece), Congress advisor on constitutional matters and member of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government, as well as the Congress Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
The initiative is part of the Congress' call for a collective, multilevel governance response to homelessness and housing insecurity, emphasising the need for collaboration and cooperation among all levels of government and civil society organisations, including for executing the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
At the end of the visit, Mayor of Sofia Vassil Terziev announced that a comprehensive social housing action plan will be ready by September this year, to address long-standing housing challenges.
"I am very satisfied with the constructive dialogue I had with the Mayor of Sofia and his team, and I commend their determination to address the long-standing challenges related to social housing in their capital city. The commitment to developing a long-term strategic plan is timely and essential for safeguarding the dignity and social rights of all residents, especially the most vulnerable,” stressed the Standing Rapporteur.
"The Congress stands ready to support all those involved in this endeavour and to help implement measures that reflect the core human rights values. I am confident that the results achieved through this political dialogue will inspire other local, regional and national authorities facing challenges in implementing the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. These results also show the importance of multilevel cooperation and political commitment required to uphold human rights for all people,” she said.
