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Recommendation 2050 (2014) Final version
Europe’s public administrations in flux: public service under threat?
1. The Parliamentary Assembly recalls
its Resolution 2008 (2014) on
Europe’s public administrations in flux: public service under threat?,
in which it advocates for the need to properly re-evaluate reform
measures taken in the field of public administration and public
services in Council of Europe member States, and to consider if
these reforms are in line with the political concept of social cohesion.
2. In accordance with the Statute of the Council of Europe (ETS
No. 1), the Assembly reaffirms that the concept of social cohesion
is at the heart of the Organisation’s mission. It is therefore essential
to place it at the top of the political agenda, especially in times
of crisis.
3. According to the Committee of Ministers, the emerging pattern
of a fragmented society – with an increasing number of people facing
obstacles to the full enjoyment of their rights, or dependent on
benefits and other public services, together with rising inequalities
between rich and poor – poses one of the greatest challenges to
social cohesion in Europe.
4. The Assembly therefore recognises the New Strategy and Council
of Europe Action Plan for Social Cohesion, approved by the Committee
of Ministers on 7 July 2010, as an essential means for the fulfilment
of the three core values of the Council of Europe: human rights,
democracy and the rule of law. The Council of Europe’s social cohesion
policy is there to ensure the well-being of all the citizens of
its member States, whilst minimising disparities and avoiding marginalisation,
to manage differences and divisions and to ensure the means of achieving
welfare for all citizens.
5. The Assembly welcomes the creation of the European Committee
for Social Cohesion, Human Dignity and Equality, which will oversee,
promote and review the implementation of the New Strategy and Council
of Europe Action Plan for Social Cohesion, and develop appropriate
tools to promote social cohesion. The Assembly expects the Committee
of Ministers to carefully review the current strategy and to adopt
guidelines for future social cohesion policies. This review should
take into account all lessons learnt from the evaluation of public
administration reforms in recent years and reconsider whether they
are in line with the political concept of social cohesion, which
is essential for the fulfilment of the core values of the Council
of Europe.
6. Therefore, the Assembly:
6.1. supports
the New Strategy and Council of Europe Action Plan for Social Cohesion,
in the expectation that the Committee of Ministers will regularly
update the Assembly on the progress made in the implementation of
the action plan;
6.2. invites the Committee of Ministers, within the framework
of the review of the current strategy on social cohesion, to consider
an innovative approach to the issue, capable of making the Council
of Europe more adaptable to new developments;
6.3. expects the Committee of Ministers to organise in 2015
a 3rd Conference of Ministers responsible for Social Cohesion to
review the new strategy and action plan, and to adopt guidelines
for future social cohesion policies;
6.4. welcomes the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of
Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)1 on the Council of Europe Charter on
shared social responsibilities, which represents a step forward
in safeguarding the social and political achievements of Europe,
and in ensuring their sustainability; it invites the Committee of
Ministers to find ways to ensure appropriate participation of the
Assembly in future activities associated with the charter;
6.5. welcomes the initiative of the Azerbaijani chairmanship
to organise an informal seminar on social cohesion in September
2014, and invites the chairmanship to include the Assembly’s recommendations in
these discussions.