30/01/2026 Session
Marking the 65th anniversary of the European Social Charter, PACE reaffirmed that social rights are a core pillar of democratic stability, recalling that the Charter was drawn up as a “cornerstone instrument” and as the counterpart, in the sphere of economic and social rights, to the European Convention on Human Rights. It stressed that “decent living conditions and social justice and cohesion are essential” and that anything undermining them “poses a direct threat to democratic security”.
Adopting the resolution based on the report by Paul Galles (Luxembourg, EPP/CD), the Assembly underlined the “paramount importance” of the revised European Social Charter, which for 30 years has formed “the most comprehensive legal framework for the protection of economic and social human rights in Europe”, commending the European Committee of Social Rights for its “outstanding contribution” to this system.
The Assembly urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to social justice by ensuring a “united and resolute implementation of the Charter”, warning that the rights it guarantees are under “unprecedented pressures”. It called on states that have not yet done so to ratify the revised Charter and key protocols, stressing that the collective complaints procedure is the primary institutional channel through which civil society can participate in the Charter system and that its ratification is “a sign of democratic maturity”.
Finally, the Assembly called on national parliaments to play a stronger role in giving effect to the Charter, urging them to enhance parliamentarians’ knowledge of social rights, integrate the Charter into legislative work, and scrutinise the follow-up to the European Committee of Social Rights' findings. National authorities, including parliaments and courts, it added, are duty-bound to take “full account of the findings, conclusions, decisions and statements of interpretation” of the Committee when applying the Charter.