Brussels, 29/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - A new annual conference to strengthen social rights has been launched by the Council of Europe, the European Economic and Social Committee and the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council. Following the conference on the Council of Europe's Social Charter, Fifty Years On, held in Paris on Friday 23 September, the three institutions decided to jointly organise an annual conference to promote the idea that there cannot be prosperity without solidarity and likewise, there cannot be competitiveness without social cohesion, explained Jean-Paul Delevoye, President of the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
The new conference will focus on three main areas: (1) examining the application of social rights charters in Europe; (2) working on tangible synergy to increase the effectiveness of the social rights in the Council of Europe's charter and the EU's charter; and (3) promoting the practical application of social rights. “At a time when Europe is suffering a serious crisis, solidarity and social rights become particularly important to citizens”, said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland in a press release published on Thursday 29 September. Staffan Nilsson, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, added that if fundamental social rights only existed on paper but not in reality, then “questions can rightly be asked about our democratic model.” (JK/transl.fl)