ILO Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Ms Beate Andrees and ILO Director for Central and Eastern Europe Ms Claire Harasty participated in the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter, organised in Vilnius, on 4 July, under the auspices of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The conference brought together ministers and high-level officials competent in the field of social rights and social policy, representatives of the Council of Europe entities, of the European Union, social partners and international organisations.
Participants reiterated the key importance of the European Social Charter and its monitoring procedures. The Vilnius Declaration restates the commitment of Council of Europe member States to respect, protect and implement the social rights and to promote social justice. All participants reaffirmed that social justice is crucial for democratic stability and security.
The Council of Europe's and the ILO's founding documents share a common creed: no peace without social justice. The Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security reflect ILO standards and continue to inspire them. While the ILO and the Council of Europe differ in membership and scope, the two organisations share similar values and principles. In these troubled times, it is important as ever to remember them.
The ILO was actively involved in the preparation of the European Social Charter in 1961 and also observed its revision in 1996. Ever since, the European Committee of Social Rights, the ILO and the Council of Europe's supervisory bodies are in regular contact to monitor the application of these social and labour rights.
The Regional Director invited all members of the Council of Europe that are also members of the ILO (43 out of 46) to ratify ILO Conventions on occupational safety and health, and the Forced Labour Protocol of 2014 - instruments that were recently added to ILO fundamental principles and rights at work. A strong commitment to ratification of ILO's Conventions would send a strong signal to the world, that members of the Council of Europe are committed to universal standards.
Ms Andrees also invited members of the Council of Europe to strengthen the implementation of social and labour standards within their countries and beyond, to create a fair environment for workers and ensure a "level playing field" among countries. In the ILO's experience, compliance with labour standards is most effective if they are part of economic and social development plans. The positive impact of labour standards is also increasingly recognised by investors, in trade agreements and other bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements.
Finally, Ms Andrees invited the Council of Europe to join forces with the ILO to promote greater social justice, to counter the erosion of social rights, preserve democratic institutions and foster social cohesion. Experience shows that countries with strong social dialogue and respect for workers' rights - especially "enabling rights" such as freedom of association and collective bargaining - are better equipped to navigate crises. "By joining the Global Coalition for Social Justice, the Council of Europe and its members could strengthen this growing movement for social justice, resilience and peace," said Ms Andrees.
