EU Presidency Statement - Enhancing social protection

Mme Chairperson, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

On behalf of the European Union, the Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia and the Associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey as well as the EFTA country member of the EEA Norway align themselves with this statement. I am pleased to take the floor on agenda item 3 (a) (i) - Enhancing social protection and reducing vulnerability in a globalising world.

First of all, let me thank the Secretary-General and the Secretariat for the preparatory work done regarding this agenda item and for the excellent report.

Mme Chairperson,

As outlined in the International Standards on Human Rights, all members of society have a right to social security. Governments have a fundamental role in ensuring social protection by promoting the capabilities and opportunities of all individuals. Social protection systems should have a life-cycle perspective to better meet the different needs of people. The World Summit for Social Development and the Special Session in Geneva last year stressed the importance of equality, participation, empowerment and solidarity, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach to social protection.

Problems connected to and arising from poverty and social exclusion are recognised all over the world. No country or region is spared. Unemployment, lack of resources, social exclusion and indebtedness are realities in the EU, as well as in other parts of the world. The EU currently faces a series of significant common challenges in the field of social protection, such as a transforming world of work, changing family structures, persistent gender inequalities, falling birth rates and an ageing population. Taken together, the situation calls for social protection systems that promote full employment, education for all, access to quality social services, equal opportunities for women and men, and the ability to combine work and family life.

Within the framework of a European strategy against social exclusion and all forms of discrimination, the European Council aims at integrating social policy protection alongside reforms of both economic policies and the working life. The strategy, agreed upon recently in Nice, builds on the assumption that combating social exclusion should be based on commonly agreed targets and national plans covering a period of two years.

Follow-up mechanisms have been established to facilitate the development of indicators and monitoring mechanisms. This allows for mutual learning, enhances understanding of social exclusion and helps address the problems effectively. Civil society organizations are considered to be crucial partners of Governments in doing so.

In many parts of the world, a large part of the population still stands outside formal systems of social protection. If poverty and social exclusion are to be tackled, both regionally and globally, we must emphasize the sustainability of social protection. The linkage between economic, environmental and social development must not be neglected. The primary responsibility for social protection rests with Governments for example in guaranteeing social rights, ensuring the existence of regulations, supporting institutions and raising awareness among citizens about their rights, in the field of social protection. However, other actors, such as non-governmental organizations, the private sector, employers, trade unions and family members, have vital roles to play.

In many regions, particularly in developing countries, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has put the social protection systems under great strain. The forthcoming Special Session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS will provide the international community with an opportunity to concentrate on this issue. This includes supporting countries in preventing HIV/AIDS and coping with its effects. Access to treatment should be ensured to all those afflicted. The importance of improving the quality life of people with HIV/AIDS should particularly be stressed.

The process of globalisation has created new challenges, as well as opportunities, in the field of social protection. The differential impact of globalization has in some areas resulted in inequalities both within and among countries. It is important to recognize that economic development and social protection are mutually reinforcing and that social protection facilitates economic restructuring. There is a need for a strengthened international co-operation for the sharing of national experiences and best practices to improve the benefits to be drawn from globalization in all countries. In this regard, the EU supports the development of internationally agreed principles in social policy, expressed for example in the core labour standards established by the ILO and the on-going work of the Council of Europe on this issue.

The EU is committed to support Governments in their efforts to strengthen social protection systems. Official Development Assistance (ODA) and debt relief can have catalytic roles in the financing of social protection. The 20/20 initiative is in this context an important encouragement for governments and donors to increase the amount of resources reserved for basic social services.

Thank you, Mme Chairperson.

| Top |