The Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) of the Council of Europe adopted a recommendation on January 24 that calls on all European states to commit to social rights by acceding to the Revised European Social Charter and recognising it as the social constitution of Europe.
The news was welcomed by Caritas Europa.
“European governments must seize the opportunity that the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights brings about and start detailing a roadmap to promote the effective guarantee of social rights for all,” said Peter Verhaeghe, Caritas Europa’s expert in social policies and representative at the INGO Conference.
Caritas Europa said the EU’s proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights in November 2017 is a strong sign of political commitment to ensure social rights at a time when Europe is slowly recovering from a major economic crisis that caused severe social distress across the Union.
“It is high time for national governments and the EU to put people first. We need to address inequalities between and within countries. Putting people first also means going beyond employment. People are not just workers but human beings,” said Jorge Nuño Mayer, Secretary General of Caritas Europa.
Caritas Europa also agrees with the Conference’s opinion that all partners of the Turin Process (EU member states) must follow the proclamation with a genuine commitment to implement effectively all social rights that are already adopted in the framework of the European Social Charter of the Council of Europe.
