Council of Europe Secretary General in Chișinău: Global crises require strengthening social rights and institutions

Global and regional crises, including the war in Ukraine and conflicts in other regions, require the strengthening of social rights and democratic institutions, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, stated today at the opening of the High-Level Conference on Social Rights – European Social Charter, which is taking place in Chișinău.

The official stressed that inclusive societies cannot be built solely through infrastructure or efficient systems, but require sustained investment in democratic security, strong institutions and access to essential services such as healthcare and housing.


“Inclusive societies are not only about high-quality infrastructure, nor just about efficient protection systems. We are in a difficult moment, marked by multiple crises at global and European level – the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East and other situations that affect us all. In this context, it is essential to invest in democratic security, in strong institutions and in access to essential services such as healthcare and housing. Respecting and promoting social rights is the safest way to consolidate and stabilize societies across our continent,” the official said.


According to Berset, the promotion of social rights is one of the most effective ways to ensure the stability of European societies in the context of current challenges.

At the same time, the official welcomed the organization of the conference in Chișinău, in the context of the Republic of Moldova’s Presidency of the Council of Europe, noting the importance of cooperation among the 46 member states.


“We thank you for hosting this event. It is a great pleasure for us to be in Chișinău, together with representatives of the 46 member states. We are convinced that the European family is the best way to promote common standards and to move forward together in building a stronger and more united Europe,” Alain Berset declared.


Today, for the first time, the Republic of Moldova is hosting the High-Level Conference on Social Rights – the European Social Charter. The event is taking place in the context of our country’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Approximately 50 official delegations are expected to attend the meeting. The conference will be opened by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, and by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu.

At the opening of the event, the Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Natalia Plugaru, emphasized that it is a great honor for the Republic of Moldova to host the High-Level Conference on the European Social Charter.


“I warmly invite all governments, stakeholders and friends to join us in Chișinău at this significant conference. Your participation will shape the future of social rights in Europe and will reaffirm our common values. We look forward to welcoming you and working together for a fairer, more inclusive and more prosperous Europe. Together we will reflect on how to strengthen implementation, promote broader ratification and ensure that the promise of social justice guides our actions both now and in the future,” Natalia Plugaru stated on the eve of the conference.


On the margins of the event, two important agreements will be signed in Chișinău: a Social Security Agreement with Ukraine and a support agreement for the implementation of the RESTART reform with the Czech Republic.

The Republic of Moldova ratified the revised European Social Charter on 8 November 2001 and accepted additional provisions in August 2024. At present, our country has accepted 71 of the 98 paragraphs of the Charter. At the same time, the Republic of Moldova has not accepted the 1995 Additional Protocol, which provides for the establishment of a system of collective complaints.

In the context of the event, the authorities have announced that road traffic will be temporarily restricted on certain streets in central Chișinău to ensure the proper organization and security of the high-level meeting.