As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Prime Minister,

Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania,

Ministers, excellencies,

Distinguished guests and speakers,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be here in Vilnius, not only to discuss a vital aspect of Europe’s human rights architecture –

But to come together and take this opportunity to extend it for the benefit of millions of Europeans.

Already, back in 1966, Polys Modinos, one of my predecessors as Deputy Secretary General, underlined the importance of social rights as human rights.

He said this:

“All of these rights are equal and indivisible.

“It is not a question of choosing between them.

“If you do away with one, you do away with all.”

End quote.

I believe that he was right.

The European Social Charter guarantees our rights to health and education –

And to work, housing and social security –

Among so many other things.

These rights are designed to ensure that we can all live decent and dignified lives.

If we are without access to learning –

Or the healthcare we need –

Or even homes to live in –

How can we go on?

How can we cherish our role as citizens and participate fully in our democratic societies –

Or, for that matter, benefit from the civil and political rights that are also laid out in the European Convention on Human Rights?

The truth is that all these rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent –

And it is only together that they form the basis of stable societies, in which people thrive, contribute and interact, and where democratic security can take root.

But at the same time, none of our rights can ever be taken for granted.

The on-going erosion of our democracies should give all of us every reason for concern.

It is not just about restrictions on freedom of speech, or the curtailment of freedom of assembly and association –

Or the rise of increased political polarisation, disinformation, hate speech, and hate crime –

Appalling as they are –

But also, the erosion of social rights, which we can see in parts of Europe today.

Over recent years, Europeans have experienced a series of economic shocks, high inflation and shrinking public expenditure, that have made things so difficult for so many.

At the same time, changes in the labour market, the rise of AI and digital transformation, and the growing impact of climate change, and changing demographics.

All of this can actually make people lose hope – or feel side-lined and marginalised.

On top of this, we have gone through a global pandemic, and now also, shockingly, a full-scale invasion and war against one of our member states, Ukraine.

Economic difficulties, combined with high levels of inflation and increasing interest rates, make social rights harder to protect – as governments need to reduce spending.

But political leaders throughout Europe are very much aware, I hope, of the challenge we are facing.

At least, in Reykjavík last year, they underlined – and I quote:

“Social justice is crucial for democratic stability and security” –

And at the same time, they reaffirmed:

“…full commitment to the protection and implementation of social rights as guaranteed by the European Social Charter system.”

In the political declaration to this High-level Conference, it is also underlined that “social justice and the respect, protection and implementation of social rights, as guaranteed in particular by the European Social Charter system, are crucial for promoting democratic security and stability”.

The Summit also proposed this High-level Conference as a means to contribute to the effort –

And that is why we are here today – and we are grateful to Lithuania for co-organising and hosting it.

Dear friends,

I believe that this High-level Conference, which coincides with the 25^th anniversary of the entry into force of the revised European Social Charter, is a real opportunity – for all of us.

To find ways to best meet this challenge head-on –

And to consider what more we can do to protect and promote social rights on our Continent, while acknowledging the possibility offered by the Charter to increase progressively the commitment aimed at respecting, protecting and implementing social rights.

We have to be more ambitious than making sure social rights will not only be protected –

But strengthened.

Just as our Europe’s leaders called for at Reykjavík.

I wish you a very successful Conference.