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Committee Opinion | Doc. 14370 | 29 June 2017
The “Turin process”: reinforcing social rights in Europe
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
A. Conclusions of the committee
(open)1. The Committee on Political
Affairs and Democracy welcomes the report by the Committee on Social Affairs,
Health and Sustainable Development on “The ‘Turin process’: reinforcing
social rights in Europe”.
2. It wishes to point to the current context of rising populism
and to stress that a healthy democracy is inextricably linked to
economic and social policies which respond to the need of the people.
By ignoring social rights, policy makers prepare the ground for
populist movements and betray the principles of the indivisibility, interdependence
and interrelatedness of human rights.
B. Proposed amendments
(open)Amendment A (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 1, insert the following paragraph:
“The Assembly stresses that a healthy democracy is inextricably linked to economic, educational and social policies; these should respond to the needs of the people and aim at reducing social inequalities that breed political disaffection, distrust and resentment against the political establishment and lead to populism and sometimes violent reactions.”
Amendment B (to the draft resolution)
Before paragraph 6.1.1, insert the following paragraph:
“reaffirming the principles of the indivisibility and interdependence of human rights in the public discourse and in legislative and policy papers;”
C. Explanatory memorandum by Mr Jordi Xuclà, rapporteur for opinion
(open)1. The report prepared by Ms Sílvia
Eloïsa Bonet for the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable
Development is a timely response to the current economic, social
and democracy crisis which impacts our member States in various
degrees.
2. I strongly believe that governments that dissociate social
rights from political and economic freedoms cannot endure and prosper
over the long term. The principles of the indivisibility, interdependence
and interrelatedness of human rights have been constantly reaffirmed
by the United Nations and the Council of Europe, including at the
Interparliamentary Conference on the European Social Charter, which
took place on 17 and 18 March 2016 in Turin. 
3. In the past, democratisation processes have been promoted,
among others, through economic support that allowed the States to
implement fundamental rights like housing, education, health and
social protection. After the Second World War, governments grasped
that human rights are needed as safeguards, not only against authoritarianism,
but also against the causes of authoritarianism. Remembering the
1920s and 30s, they understood that financial crisis, poverty and
widening inequality provided fertile ground for the right-wing populism
which led to war. However, in the era of unregulated globalisation,
governments forgot history and their international obligation to
take all reasonable measures to deliver economic, social and cultural
rights for everyone.
4. If democracy has to be revived, a very first requirement is
indeed, as the “Turin process” shows, a strengthening of social
rights as human rights, with a reduction of the increasing social
inequalities that are at the basis of political disaffection.
5. Distrust and resentment towards the political establishment
as well as globalisation are often presented as the reason for a
shift towards far-right and populist parties. However, this can
also be seen as a backlash against liberal democracy for weakening
and marginalising social rights.
6. In some countries, political elites seem to ignore this form
of dissatisfaction and agree on, or surrender to the necessity of
unfair economic policies which further marginalise social rights.
As a result, part of the electorate turn towards extremist leaders
who may seem to offer alternative solutions to people’s everyday problems.
As stressed by Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland in his 2017 report
on the state of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, populists
“tend to be anti-establishment, respond to widespread public grievances
and appeal to emotions”.
7. Democratic leaders must regain credibility in the social and
economic area and use social rights instruments and mechanisms to
their full potential, chiefly the European Social Charter treaty
system, if they want to stop populist and extremist politics. They
must embrace and assert economic and social rights as human rights
rather than as mere “welfare” or “development” objectives.
8. Finally, the 2017 World Forum for Democracy, which will take
place from 8 to 10 November 2017 in Strasbourg, will focus on the
role of political parties and media in the context of rising populism.
I hope that the “Turin Process” will influence the Forum’s discussions
and I can only encourage the Committee on Social Affairs, Health
and Sustainable Development to raise the profile of the European
Social Charter treaty system at this event.