Tuesday 25 January 2000 at 3 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A PROVISIONAL VERSION OF THE REPORT OF  THE DEBATE OF 25 JANUARY 2000 AT 3 P.M WHICH MAY STILL BE CORRECTED BY THE SPEAKERS

In this report:

1. Speeches in English are reported in full.

2. Speeches in other languages are summarised.

3. Speeches in German and Italian are reproduced in full in a separate document.

Corrections should be handed in at Room 1059A not later than 24 hours after the report has been circulated.

ADDENDUM

"Question No. 11:

Mr Haack,

 

Noting that next Friday it will be exactly two years since the Parliamentary Assembly adopted a recommendation on the European Social Charter (Recommendation 1354, 1998),

Considering that in the recommendation, the Committee of Ministers is called upon to promote a campaign for ratification of the Revised European Social Charter as well as the corresponding additional protocol and to work for the establishment of a European Social Court,

 

Noting that thus far there has been no decision by the Committee of Ministers on this recommendation,

 

To ask the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers,

 

How far advanced the consultations on this recommendation are and when can the Assembly expect a result,

 

Whether the Committee of Ministers shares the view that given the ongoing consultations on the contents of a European Charter on Fundamental Rights there is an urgent need for the Committee of Ministers to underscore the importance of the European Social Charter for the European fundamental rights process by taking a corresponding decision in the near future."

 

Reply by Mr David Andrews on behalf of the Committee of Ministers:

 

The Committee of Ministers agrees with the Assembly that, just as the European Convention on Human Rights is the point of reference in the field of civil and political rights, the European Social Charter should be the benchmark for all the Council of Europe’s activities in the field of social and economic rights.

 

In this connection, I recall the statement made by the heads of state and government in the action plan following the second summit according to which they "undertake to promote social standards as embodied in the Social Charter and in other Council of Europe instruments, and call for the widest possible adherence to these instruments; they resolve to improve the exchange of good practice and information between member states and to intensify their co-operation in this field."

 

The contents of the European Social Charter are relevant to any text including social and economic rights in Europe. I draw your attention here to the reference to the Charter in the Amsterdam Treaty.

 

Turning to Recommendation 1354, the two issues under consideration are:

 

- the proposed increase in the membership of the European Committee of Social Rights, and;

 

- the strengthening of the Secretariat of the European Social Charter.

 

The Committee of Ministers has not finished its consideration of these issues and is not therefore in a position to adopt a reply to the Assembly.

 

I know that the deadline of nine months for replies has been exceeded. I shall impress on my colleagues the need for a reply in the very near future.