Future of social security in Europe

Doc. 10463

1 March 2005

Future of social security in Europe

Recommendation 1661 (2004)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 916^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (23 February 2005)

1. The Committee of Ministers welcomes Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1661 (2004) on the future of social security in Europe, which it has drawn to the attention of the governments of member states. It has received an opinion on the Recommendation from the European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS) (see Appendix to this reply), which it wishes to draw to the Assembly's attention and whose content it endorses, for it provides ample information in response to paragraph 18, paragraph iii, of the Assembly recommendation. The "Methodological guide to the development of social cohesion indicators" prepared by the secretariat is a useful tool for finding out more about individual situations. Moreover, work could be done in future on the aspects of social cohesion that are more specifically linked to cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

2. The Committee of Ministers agrees with the Assembly that, given the alteration in Europe's economic environment over the last 30 years, the competitiveness of European economies is partly dependent on the performance of social security systems in guaranteeing security for the future. Adaptation to this new context therefore presupposes new standards for social protection. The Committee of Ministers is likewise convinced that effectively guaranteed social rights make for social cohesion and democratic stability. It is for this reason that the persistence of mass unemployment, the future of pension schemes and family-friendly social policies are major challenges that need to be taken into account.

3. The Committee of Ministers endorses the Assembly's view that the Council of Europe's legal instruments in the social field (for example the European Social Charter and Revised European Social Charter, the European Code of Social Security and Protocol thereto and the Revised European Code of Social Security, as well as the revised Social Cohesion strategy), have defined a real European standard in this field and made social protection a fundamental right with an international supervision system. Accordingly, the Committee of Ministers encourages member states which have not done so to sign and ratify these various instruments as soon as possible.

4. The Committee of Ministers is satisfied to note that many of the Council of Europe's achievements in the social field are recognised. It agrees with the CDCS that consolidating social security systems should be one of the major objectives of any social cohesion strategy. It is for that reason that it is expected that the subject of social cohesion will be on the agenda of the Third Summit of the Council of Europe; the Committee of Ministers will take Assembly Recommendation 1661 into account in this context.

5. Lastly, the Committee of Ministers would take the opportunity to stress that it sets great store by the right to social protection and will keep the Assembly duly informed of future activities in this field and involve it where appropriate.

Appendix to the reply

Opinion of the European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS) on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1661 (2004) on the future of social security in Europe

1. The European Committee for Social Cohesion (CDCS) carefully examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1661 (2004) on the future of social security in Europe. The CDCS has indicated on several occasions that it sets great store by social security, as a key factor in social cohesion, and it is most satisfied to see that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe continues to be committed to improving social protection and determined to strive to ensure that the principles set out in the Council of Europe’s legal instruments on social security are respected. During their 7th Conference in Malta on the theme “Social Security and its transition into the 21st Century”, the European Ministers responsible for Social Security underlined that social security should continue to play an important role in social cohesion and social peace.

2. At the start of its work in 2000, the CDCS stressed that consolidating social security systems should be one of the major objectives of any social cohesion strategy. It has continued to pursue this approach and, in its revised Strategy for Social Cohesion, which the Committee of Ministers approved on 31 March 2004, the CDCS states that the approach pursued by European countries in the 20th century has often been referred to as the “European social model”. This approach is now being called into question in many quarters and is under considerable strain, and the Strategy acknowledges that the challenge for Europe in the 21st century is to find ways of adapting these social policy achievements to changing needs and circumstances without depriving them of their very essence. With reference more particularly to social security, the Strategy states that “the State restores a sufficient degree of equity in the distribution of wealth through mechanisms of solidarity such as redistributive taxation and social security. Social security systems, indeed, are one of the most powerful institutional expressions of social solidarity. The establishment or maintenance of a well developed social security system, based on solidarity is seen as one of the principal means of fostering social cohesion. A strategy for social cohesion must therefore have as a main aim the strengthening of sustainable social security systems, especially at a time when many questions are posed about their future development and financing” (paragraph 20).

3. The CDCS has also had occasion to express its views on the key role of social security legal instruments. For instance, in its opinion of November 2002 on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1573 (2002) on the ratification of the European Code of Social Security, the CDCS pointed out that the right to social security was a fundamental right, recognised as a human right in both international (Universal Declaration of Human Rights and United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) and European (European Social Charter and Revised Charter, Article 12) legal instruments, and that the European Code of Social Security served as a reference in this area.

4. The CDCS considers that there are several specific proposals in Recommendation 1661 (2004) that are designed to strengthen social protection, and it endorses the measures suggested. In particular, it shares the Parliamentary Assembly’s view that, while there cannot be a single social security model, given that traditions and objectives may differ from one country to another, it is necessary to abide by common principles so that current and future reforms continue to be guided by the European social model on which social protection systems have been built.

5. Accordingly, the CDCS welcomes the Assembly’s proposal (paragraph 18.i) that the question of social security and the fight against poverty be included in the agenda of the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, scheduled to be held in Warsaw, Poland, on 16 and 17 May 2005. The CDCS endorses this recommendation all the more firmly as it considers that the Organisation’s commitment to social cohesion, initially expressed at the previous Summit, should be firmly upheld and extended. The CDCS hopes that the Third Summit will call for the appointment of a group of prominent people to prepare a report redefining the vision of social cohesion in Europe in the light of the new conditions prevailing in the 21st century.

6. The CDCS also supports the proposal that supervisory machinery be strengthened in the social sphere (paragraph 18.ii). The Committee of Experts on Standard-Setting Instruments in the Social Security Field

(CS-CO) is a unique forum for discussion and coordination involving the main specialist parties concerned. The CS-CO endeavours, through the supervisory machinery of the European Code of Social Security, to develop new means of helping states apply the Code more satisfactorily in their national legislation and practice, by means of increased technical cooperation, the establishment of “road maps” and regular bilateral and regional assistance.

7. With regard to indicators (paragraph 18.iii), the CDCS would point out that the “Methodological Guide to the Development of Social Cohesion Indicators” is to be published under the responsibility of the Secretariat in the coming months and that the possibility of cooperation in this area with the European Commission (DG Employment and Social Affairs) is under consideration. The CDCS would point out that the Parliamentary Assembly’s observations are fully in keeping with the European Union’s objectives, as defined in the Lisbon agenda. Current reforms and those envisaged in order to ensure a more competitive economy, sustainable development and greater social cohesion by the year 2010 concern areas in which the Assembly has made recommendations (relating, for example, to the modernisation of the systems concerned, the achievement of a balance between work and family life by means of better child care facilities and a transition to active systems providing access to employment for everyone, including lone parents, people with disabilities and elderly people).

8. Lastly, in response to paragraph 18.iv, the CDCS would confirm that it wishes to continue to cooperate with the International Labour Office. It would draw attention, in this connection, to the conference recently held in conjunction with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) (Cyprus, 27 and 28 May 2004) in connection with the Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All. This successful conference was attended by social security specialists from the Council of Europe member states and other Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority). It set out to promote the concept of social security as a human right and indispensable part of social progress, to foster discussion between Council of Europe member states and Mediterranean countries in this field and to set in motion a dialogue on social issues linked to migration between countries of origin, transit countries and destination countries.