Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13569 | 02 July 2014
Drafting social indicators and issuing an annual report on social rights
“Europeans are living through the deepest economic recession since World War II. What began as a meltdown in the global financial system in 2008 has been transformed into a new political reality of austerity which is threatening over six decades of social solidarity and expanding human rights protection across Council of Europe member States.” With those words the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights began the November 2013 issue paper.
When dealing with the crisis both MPs and governments in many European countries have found themselves alone when facing the tragic dilemmas that have led to adverse changes in social rights. Being under pressure the European Union has introduced, to some extent, the social indicators in the “European Semester” program. For example, for the current month of June, the European Commission has proposed country-specific recommendations on financial and social policies.
Combating poverty and social exclusion is among the five goals of the European Union, within the framework of the ‘Europe 2020’ plan. This is a common goal, combining both national action and action at European Union level.
However, there’s no indicator for decent working conditions, child poverty and gender equality, in order to draw specific conclusions about the social rights in every member State.
The Council of Europe has drawn up the European Social Charter and a monitoring mechanism at the level of the Committee of Ministers.
The Parliamentary Assembly should therefore draw up social indicators according to the European Social Charter and issue an annual report with the conclusions of the social situation in the member States, based on the above-mentioned social indicators and the extent of compliance with the commitments concerning social rights.