04/07/2024 President
PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos today underlined the urgent need to address issues such as inequality, housing, low income and social exclusion, “which pose direct threats to the stability of our democratic order”, serving as roots for the rise of nationalist and extremist sentiments.
Speaking at the opening of the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter in Vilnius, he said that defending social rights required a significant leap at both national and European levels, “and more solidarity and collective effort”, in order to preserve social peace and democratic stability across the continent.
“I can only encourage the States Parties to the Charter to take on new commitments by accepting additional provisions or ratifying the treaty and its protocols,” he said, stressing the importance of completing ratification of the 1991 Protocol to the Charter (the so-called Turin Protocol).
“No one should be left behind when it comes to ensuring the protection of fundamental social rights. The Parliamentary Assembly considers the Charter as a benchmark for human development. It deems necessary to expand the reach of existing social rights to all persons living under the jurisdiction of States parties,” Mr Rousopoulos concluded.
The conference, as a step to take further commitments under the Charter where possible, is organised under the auspices of the Presidency of Lithuania to the Committee of Ministers, in the framework of the follow-up to the Fourth Summit of the Council of Europe.
It is bringing together Ministers and senior officials competent in the field of social rights and social policy, representatives of Council of Europe entities, as well as representatives from the European Commission, the Fundamental Rights Agency, the ILO, the UN, and from civil society.
