On 23 October 2026, an international conference on Romania and the Revised European Social Charter (the Charter) marking the treaty’s 30^th anniversary took place at the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest. The Conference was organised by Politehnica Bucharest’s Faculty of Economic Sciences and Law, in partnership with the Romanian Senate and the European Committee of Social Rights, and brought together high-level public officials, legal and academic experts, and representatives of the social partners and civil society organisations.

Keynote speakers included Aoife Nolan, President of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), Titus Corlățean, President of the Romanian Senate Foreign Policy Committee and Alexandru Athanasiu, former Minister of Labour of Romania. Among the speakers were also other ECSR members such as Tatiana Puiu and George Theodosis ( Vice-Presidents),Mario Vinković, Carmen Constantina Nenu, Yusuf Balci, Kristine Dupate and Alla Fedorova. The representatives of the Romanian authorities included, the President of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, and also the Minister of Justice, Radu Marinescu. 

The programme examined the Charter’s role in protecting social rights, including labour rights, gender equality, education, disability rights, and the relationship between the Charter and European Union law. Sessions addressed emerging questions such as artificial intelligence and the future of work, social rights in the digital age, and the protection of children and vulnerable groups.

The event placed social rights and the Revised European Social Charter on the agenda of the Romanian Government and Parliament. Although Romania is a party to this international treaty since 1999, it has so far accepted only 65 of its 98 provisions. By highlighting the importance of implementing social rights in order to strengthen  democratic security and stability, this conference has paved the way for potential progress for Romania within the framework of the Charter system, by opening up the prospect of accepting a greater number of its articles as well as possibly the collective complaints procedure.

  Programme