Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Latest news

(Twitter) (@PACE_Social)

ACTIVITIES

Agenda
All items due for discussion and decision

Reports under preparation
List of reports under preparation in the committee

Documents and declarations
The committee's public documents and declarations

Decisions
Details of decisions taken by the committee at each meeting (synopses)

Did you know?

The committee is responsible for awarding the Europe Prize, created in 1955, which recognises the contribution made by towns and cities to promotion of the European ideal. The Prize is divided into four parts: the European Diploma, the Flag of Honour, the Plaque of Honour and the Europe Prize itself. The winner of the 2019 Prize is Donostia/San Sebastián (Spain).

Link to the website of the Europe Prize

In January 2026, Ms Saskia Kluit (Netherlands, SOC) was elected as Chairperson of the Committee.

The Bureau of the Committee also elected:
- Ms Carmen Leyte (Spain, EPP/CD), first Vice-Chairperson,
- Ms Yuliia Ovchynnykova (Ukraine, ALDE), second Vice-Chairperson,
- Ms Sophia Chikirou (France, UEL), third Vice-Chairperson.

The Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development supports the development and implementation of the Council of Europe standards through parliamentary action. With the help of voluntary contributions from national parliaments, it organises parliamentary seminars, contributes to awareness raising campaigns and produces practical handbooks.

in the spotlight

 

Website of the Parliamentary Network on the situation of the children of Ukraine

Website of the Parliamentary Network for a healthy environment

Publications and tools

Handbooks for Parliamentarians:

The European Social Charter - Full guide

The European Social Charter in a nutshell

Countering Trafficking in Human Organs

MEDICRIME: Tackling Counterfeiting of Medical Products (versions in Russian, Slovenian, Spanish)

LANZAROTE: Protecting Children against Sexual Abuse (versions in Armenian, Azeri, Georgian, German, Romanian, Russian, Spanish)

Leaflet on PACE reports on Children's Rights

Child-friendly report on child participation

Briefing note for parliamentarians on child participation

Proposal for the Child Safeguarding Policy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

FUNCTIONING

Terms of reference
The Committee shall consider issues relating to social rights and policies, public health, sustainable development, economic co-operation and development, local and regional democracy and good governance in these fields, having special regard to the situation of the more vulnerable groups in society.

Term of reference of the sub-committees

 

Members of the committee

The 79 members are appointed by the national delegations to the Assembly and may belong to one of the five political groups in the Assembly or be non-registered.

Members of the sub-committees

Sub-Committee on the European Social Charter Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize

General Rapporteur

Yuliia OVCHYNNYKOVA (Ukraine, ALDE)
General Rapporteur on local and regional authorities

Terms of reference

Elena BONETTI (Italy, ALDE)
General Rapporteur on child participation

Terms of reference

Joseph O'REILLY (Ireland, EPP/CD)
General Rapporteur on the situation of women and children in the Palestinian territories

Terms of reference

Youth Rapporteur

Aurora FLORIDIA (Italy, SOC)

Secretariat

Mme Catherine DU-BERNARD ROCHY
Head of the Secretariat 6.155+33/3 90.21.5047 Mme Jannick DEVAUX
Secretary 6.147+33/3 88.41.3948 Ms Claire DUBOIS-HAMDI
Secretary 6.136+33/3 88.41.3310 Ms Aiste RAMANAUSKAITE
Secretary 6.134+33/3 88.41.3117 Mme Prisca BARTHEL
Principal Administrative Assistant – Responsible for the Europe Prize section 6.150+33/3 90.21.5118 Mr Stefan STANKOVIĆ
Project assistant 6.145+33/3 90.21.5746 Ms Xenia BIRIOUKOVA
Assistant 6.153+33/3 90.21.5879 Ms Ozgü TAN
Assistant 6.140+33/3 90.21.4864