Conference on the future of the protection of social rights in Europe

Brussels, 12-13 February 2015

Within the framework of the Belgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe the Federal Public Service Social Security 2015 and the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, organised on 12 and 13 February 2015 a high-level Conference on "The Future of the Protection of Social Rights in Europe" in Brussels.

The event offered a high-level exchange between academic experts, social partners, civil society organizations and representatives of international and political institutions.

Following the Turin Conference, the discussions resulted in the "Brussels Document", i.e. the synthesis of the conclusions reached by the sessions.

The "Brussels Document" has been handed over to the Belgium Chairmanship to provide input for the activities of the Council of Europe concerning social rights, with an updated and renewed view.

Programme (see also Dutch version)

Background paper (see also Dutch version)

Brussels' Document (see also Italian, German and Dutch versions)

Press release (see also Dutch version)

Speeches and statements delivered on the occasion of the Conference

Thursday 12 February 2015

OPENING SESSION:

Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility

Maggie De Block, Belgian Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health

SESSION I: REDEFINING THE WELFARE STATE AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS: DEVELOPMENTS IN SOCIAL PROTECTION AND LABOUR LAW

Isabel Ortiz, Director Social Protection, International Labour Organization

Prof. Catherine Barnard, Cambridge University

SESSION II: GUARANTEE OF THE SOCIAL RIGHTS BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE : A BULWARK AGAINST THE CRISIS

Giuseppe Palmisano, President of the European Committee of Social Rights.

Prof. Paul Lemmens, Judge at the European Court of Human Rights.

SESSION III: GUARANTEE OF THE SOCIAL RIGHTS IN A BROADER CONTEXT

Prof. Koen Lenaerts, Vice-President of the Court of Justice of the European Union

Virginia Bras Gomes, UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Member of the Committee

Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director, ILO International Labour Standards Department

Friday 13 October 2015

Synthesis of the first day, by François Vandamme, Elected member of the European Committee of Social Rights

SESSION IV: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IN THE AREA

Prof. Jeff Kenner, Chair of European Law, University of Nottingham: The role of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the protection of social rights and a member of the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC)

Prof. Olivier De Schutter, Member of the Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights, Agency and Member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: The relationship between the European Union and the Council of Europe with regard to social rights: review of the present situation and future prospects

SESSION V: CONCLUSIONS

Michele Nicoletti, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, General Rapporteur of the Conference of Turin

Kris Peeters, Belgian Vice-Prime Minister, and Minister of Employment, Economy and Consumers, in charge of External Trade and announcement of the “Brussels Document” on the future of the protection of fundamental social rights in Europe.

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS:

Pierre Baussand, Director of Social Platform

Georges de Kerchove, representative of ATD Quart Monde

Date: 12-13 February 2015

Location: Auditorium Pacheco, Brussels

Organiser: Council of Europe, Belgian Federal Public Service Social Security, Belgian Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue in the framework of the Belgian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe

The European Social Charter
a guardian of our social rights

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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