Treaties related to social security

The Council of Europe has provided legal instruments to define common European social security standards. In addition to the European Social Charter, these valuable tools are the European Code of Social Security, its Protocol and the European Code of Social Security (revised).

The European Code of Social Security

The Code aims at encouraging the development of social security in all member States of the Council of Europe in order that they may gradually reach the highest level possible. The Code fixes a series of standards which Parties undertake to include in their social security systems.

The Code defines norms for social security coverage and establishes minimum levels of protection which Parties must provide in such areas as medical care, sickness benefits, unemployment benefit, old-age benefits, employment injury benefits, family benefits, maternity benefits, invalidity benefits, survivors' benefits, etc.

Protocol to the European Code of Social Security

The Protocol contains provisions allowing Parties to achieve a higher level of social security than that provided for in the provisions of the European Code of Social Security.

European Code of Social Security (revised)

The revised European Code of Social Security updates and improves the provisions of the European Code of Social Security.

The Revised Code, like its predecessor, defines European norms for social security coverage and establishes minimum levels of protection which Parties must provide in areas such as pensions, unemployment and invalidity benefits, medical care etc. The most important improvements in the new text are higher rates of cover, an extension of the level and duration of benefits, the inclusion of new benefits, relaxation of the conditions of entitlement, a larger number of preventative measures and the absence of all discrimination based on sex.

Implementation of the revised Code by States which have ratified it will be supervised by a Commission of independent experts working within the Council of Europe's framework. Parties are required, in addition, to send reports on their implementation of the Code to their most representative national organisations of employers and workers. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is also called upon to give an opinion on the national reports.

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