The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) had an exchange of views with Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) on 18 October 2018 in Strasbourg.

Michael O’Flaherty recalled the continued engagement of the FRA to human rights in Europe through collecting pertinent and timely data and providing expert advice to the EU institutions and member States on a variety of fundamental rights issues. He pointed out that the FRA pays very close attention to the Council of Europe legal standards and to the conclusions and decisions of the ECSR. Therefore, the FRA will continue to call for the accession of EU member States to the European Social Charter and the collective complaints procedure, and will continue supporting the Turin Process for the European Social Charter.

With regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights, proclaimed by the EU institutions in November 2017, Michael O’Flaherty underlined that the Pillar is an important turning point for social rights in the EU and its implementation would be reinforced by the accession by the EU to the ESC.

Michael O’Flaherty also mentioned that the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Europe would inevitably improve the situation of fundamental social rights.

Last, but not least, Michael O’Flaherty also raised the issue of how the FRA data and analysis could be made available to the European Committee of Social Rights and proposed to develop further the cooperation between the Agency and the Council of Europe.