Pillar/Sector/Programme

Pillar: Human Rights

Sector: Ensuring Social Rights

Programme: European Social Charter

Main tasks

Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, the European Social Cohesion Platform (PECS) will sustain and underpin the Secretary General’s strategy to enhance the Council of Europe’s work in the area of social cohesion, in particular through the promotion of the European Social Charter and its collective complaints procedure in order to ensure equal and effective access to social rights. In particular the PECS is instructed to:

(i)      ensure the mainstreaming of social cohesion throughout the Council of Europe by further developing the concept, by contributing to impact assessments of the various activities in the different sectors with regard to achieving social cohesion, including the relevant activities aimed at building inclusive societies, and by promoting specific actions which contribute to social cohesion. Particular attention will be paid to ensuring that everyone can enjoy their social rights, as guaranteed by the European Social Charter and other relevant instruments, in practice and without any discrimination, with a special emphasis on vulnerable groups and young people, taking into account the findings of the relevant monitoring mechanisms. For this purpose, the Platform will support co-operation activities carried out upon the request of member States;

(ii)     foster the exchange of good practices and innovative approaches in the field of social cohesion among member States, as well as with relevant international organisations and other stakeholders; promote dialogue with the European Union, the United Nations and other international organisations, with a view to identifying opportunities for co-operation in the field of social cohesion;

(iii)    examine new trends and challenges to social cohesion in specific areas such as the protection and integration of migrants and refugees, the impact of the economic crisis on social and health protection, in particular combating poverty and exclusion which may foster violent radicalisation, and the access of vulnerable groups and young people to social rights, while including a human dignity and anti-discrimination perspective in this work. It will advise the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary General on any appropriate action to be taken;

(iv)    take due account of a gender perspective in the performance of its tasks.

Composition

Members:

The governments of Council of Europe member States are invited to designate one or more representatives of highest possible rank in the field of social cohesion. The Council of Europe will bear the travel and subsistence expenses of one representative from each member State (two in the case of the State whose representative has been elected Chair).

Each member of the Platform shall have one vote. Where a government designates more than one member, only one of them is entitled to take part in the voting.

Participants:

The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets:

-     Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;

-     Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe;

-     European Court of Human Rights;

-     Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights;

-     Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe;

-     Venice Commission;

-     European Committee of Social Rights,

-     Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB);

-     Committees or other bodies of the Council of Europe engaged in related work, as appropriate, in particular :

o   Governmental Committee of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security,

o   Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH),

o   Gender Equality Commission (GEC),

o   Ad Hoc Committee of experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CAHDPH),

o   European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC),

o   European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ),

o   Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI),

o   European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG),

o   Steering Committee for Educational Policy and Practice (CDPPE),

o   European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ),

o   Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ),

o   Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP),

o   Ad hoc Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (CAHROM).

The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and without defrayal of expenses:

-     European Union, including, as appropriate, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND);

-     Observer States to the Council of Europe: Canada, Holy See, Japan, Mexico, United States of America;

-     Countries concerned with the Council of Europe policy towards neighbourhood regions;

-     Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (including ODIHR);

-     United Nations including its specialised agencies, programmes, funds and other entities, in particular International Labour Organisation;

-     Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);

-     Nordic Centre for Welfare and Social Issues (NVC) under the aegis of the Nordic Council of Ministers;

-     European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and/or Business Europe and International Organisation of Employers (“social partners”);

-     other non-governmental organisations upon invitation from the Platform.

Observer:

The following may send representatives, without the right to vote and without defrayal of expenses:

-     European Youth Forum.

Working methods

Plenary meetings

48 members, 1 meeting in 2018, 2 days

48 members, 1 meeting in 2019, 2 days

In addition to the annual meetings, the Platform will work, as required, by means of electronic communication between meetings and through three Working Groups, using essentially such tools.

The Platform shall appoint a Gender Equality Rapporteur from amongst its members.

In order to keep the members of the Platform, the interested national institutions, civil society and the public at large updated on Council of Europe’s activities in this area, the Secretariat will provide monthly information in the form of an electronic “Social Cohesion Newsletter”.

The Platform will contribute to the preparation by the Secretary General of an interim report on the progress and results in its field of competence after the end of the first year and a final report by end of the second year.

Meetings per year

Number of days

Members

Plenary

€

Bureau

€

Subordinate structures /
Working groups

Secretariat
(A, B)

1

2

48

50 000

-

-

1 A

Meetings per year

Number of days

Members

Plenary

€

Bureau

€

Subordinate structures /
Working groups

Secretariat
(A, B)

1

2

48

50 000

-

-

1A