50th session: On 1 April, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe put the spotlight on social rights in a wide-ranging, practical debate firmly rooted in the realities on the ground. At the close of the discussions, members adopted a resolution and a recommendation calling for greater action at all levels of governance to ensure effective access to social rights in Europe.
The text calls on local and regional authorities to take action, namely, to develop social housing strategies, address gaps in social protection and ensure access to healthcare, education and decent work, while paying particular attention to the most vulnerable groups. At the same time, national governments are called upon to clarify the distribution of responsibilities and funding, and to involve local authorities fully in decision-making processes.
According to Martine Dieschburg-Nickels, a member from Luxembourg (L, ILDG) and co-rapporteur, the message was clear: social rights are inseparable from human rights and democracy. Against a background of multiple crises, she stressed the need to translate political commitments into concrete action. “Without adequate resources, rights remain merely theoretical,” she said, reminding members of the commitments made at the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter in Chisinau.
Her statement drew on concrete examples, in particular the reception of Ukrainian refugees, which had placed local authorities on the front line. Housing, healthcare, education and the prevention of violence were all challenges that local authorities often had to address as a matter of urgency. She also drew attention to the plight of the most vulnerable groups – young people, the elderly, migrants and minorities – who were particularly exposed to the combined effects of budgetary pressure and the strain on public services, leading to an increased risk of social discontent and political polarisation.
The report she presented provides an initial overview of local and regional responsibilities in the area of social rights. It puts forward a clear finding: without consistent distribution of responsibilities, adequate funding and rapid response mechanisms, equal access to rights remains a tenuous goal. On the other hand, implementing them effectively is a cornerstone of social cohesion and democratic stability.
Her co-rapporteur, Cecilia Dalman Eek, a Swedish member (R, SOC/G/PD), fleshed out this observation in very concrete terms. Drawing on her experience as an administrator at Gothenburg Regional Hospital, she spoke of inequalities in access to healthcare, which result in differences in life expectancy of up to ten years depending on the neighbourhood. “Equitable access to healthcare determines all other rights,” she said, pointing out that the revised European Social Charter of 1996 served as the Congress’s compass in this regard.
She also announced that the report was only the first step. Further research would provide more in-depth analysis of the obstacles to implementing social rights, notably with the support of the European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe. The aim was to transform the initial analysis into an in-depth assessment of the violations of social rights, before taking action by strengthening the tools available to local and regional authorities.
The debate in the chamber intensified following contributions from the youth delegates, who voiced their concerns about the growing difficulty in accessing housing and employment. They also condemned persistent discrimination, in particular against young people from the LGBTQ+ community, and called for more inclusive policies.
Another striking contribution came from Fanis Spanos (EPP/CCE), chair of the Greek delegation, who sounded the alarm over the depopulation of rural areas. With a lack of jobs, accessible healthcare services and transport infrastructure, many people were forced to leave their home regions. He called for an ambitious effort to revitalise rural areas across Europe, based on local economic development, remote working and investment in infrastructure, in order to avoid the dual imbalance of abandoned rural areas and overcrowded towns and cities.
Lastly, several Congress members highlighted some inspiring initiatives. In Istanbul and other Turkish cities, community restaurants gave people in need access to affordable food. Vocational integration schemes, such as bakeries employing single women or people with disabilities, and medical transport services for the elderly all demonstrated the innovative capacity of local communities.
In the course of the discussions, one point became clear: social rights cannot just be imposed by decree; they are built day by day, working closely with the public. And in this process, local and regional authorities are emerging more than ever before as key players.
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