10th anniversary of the Revised Charter

The European Social Charter: the next 10 years

Seminar to mark the tenth anniversary of the European Social Charter (revised)
3 May 2006, Strasbourg, Palais de l'Europe

Programme

Morning

Chair: Mr Bernard Marquet, President of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, Parliamentary Assembly

Moderator: Mrs Jane Dinsdale, Director General ad interim, Directorate General of Human Rights

The Social Charter's implementation in the member States

The role of the executive and the legislature

Ms Christina Zorlin, Director. Directorate for Sectorial Operational Programme for Human Resources Development, Ministry of Labour, Bucharest, Romania

The role of the judiciary

Professor Martin Scheinin. Professor of constitutional and international law, Institute for Human Rights, Abo Akademie University, Finland

Ceremony, Foyer of the Committee of Ministers

Address delivered at the commemoration ceremony of the 10 anniversary of the Revised Charter, Foyer of the Committee of Ministers

Afternoon

Chair: Mr Vojtech Tkac, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Parliamentary Assembly

Moderator: Mr Philippe BOILLAT, Director, Directorate General of Human Rights

The Social Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights

Introductory report

Professor Jean-François Akandji-Kombe. Director, Master Programme on Fundamental Rights, Caen University, France

The Social Charter and the European Union

Introductory report (French only)

Professor Olivier de Schutter. Louvain Catholic University, Belgium

Closing session

General Report

Mr Colm O'Cinneide. University College, London, United Kingdom

The European Social Charter
a guardian of our social rights

Shortcuts

Treaties

Coming events

Back Exchange of views between Karin Lukas, President of the European Committee of Social Rights, and the Committee of Ministers Delegates

In her exchange of views with the Committee of Ministers Delegates, Karin Lukas, President of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), emphasised that during her mandate the Committee has consistently aimed to interpret the Charter in the light of present-day conditions to keep up with the drastic changes impacting social rights and to better protect rights bearers, especially the most vulnerable.

The successive crises which have rippled worldwide, have put extreme strain on the enjoyment of social rights by many on our continent. In this context, Karin Lukas underlined the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of an ambitious reform package of the Charter system in September 2022, after a broad consultation process under the aegis of GT-CHARTE. She recalled that the main objective of the reform was to render the reporting procedure lighter and more targeted, strengthen the role of the Governmental Committee and enhance the dialogue among stakeholders.

She also informed the Ministers’ Deputies that the European Committee of Social Rights has decided to strengthen its follow-up on non-accepted provisions. For this purpose, in addition to reporting on non-accepted provisions, meetings with the authorities and other stakeholders will resume in order to identify or create opportunities for accepting further provisions. In addition, and in line with decisions of the Deputies, this process will also include States Parties bound by the 1961 Charter*, with the aim not only of increasing the number of accepted provisions but also of encouraging them to ratify the Revised Charter.

Karin Lukas also emphasised that the addition of new rights to the Charter should be given proper consideration in order to take full account of the evolving social context and expectations of European citizens.

Finally, Karin Lukas stressed that, for the reform to be truly successful and in order to maintain the quality and relevance of the Charter, it is crucial to provide the European Committee of Social Rights and its Secretariat with adequate resources.

Intervention of Karin Lukas before the Committee of Ministers Delegates