On 12 September, the UN Human Rights Regional Office for Europe (OHCHR) contributed to the European Commission’s consultation on the new Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. An important tool for advancing social rights, the Action Plan represents an opportunity to strengthen equality and inclusion within the EU, and to recommit to universal human rights standards.

The paper – Dignity for All: Realizing Social Rights in the EU - and which is an update of OHCHR’s 2021 submission to the consultation on the 2021-2025 Action Plan, sets out key considerations and recommendations for an Action Plan grounded in international human rights:

• Align the Action Plan with international human rights law and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), using SDG and OHCHR human rights indicators to track progress.
• Use recommendations and findings from international human rights mechanisms to establish a baseline for assessing States’ progress on social rights, and ensure their consistent integration into the European Semester process.
• Map and address the needs of groups most left behind, and ensure systematic participation of rights-holders, civil society, and other stakeholders in the implementation of the Action Plan.
• Ensure consistency with related EU strategies, such as the Child Guarantee, the EU Anti-Racism Strategy, the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Inclusion, Equality and Participation, the European Affordable Housing Plan and the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.
• Secure adequate funding to implement the Action Plan in the 2028–2034 EU budget.

The OHCHR Regional Office for Europe continues advocating for greater integration of international human rights standards in EU social policy, and remains committed to working with EU institutions and other stakeholders to advance social rights in Europe.