The 50th anniversary of the European Social Charter presents the opportunity for a comprehensive and informative review of one of the Council of Europe's fundamental treaties. What are its origins ? Which states does it cover ? What are its strengths ? What are the new challenges that the Charter needs to address ? This dynamic and accessible publication allows the reader to find out more about an instrument that is of vital importance for the protection of human rights in Europe and elsewhere.

The 50th anniversary of the European Social Charter presents the opportunity for a comprehensive and informative review of one of the Council of Europe's fundamental treaties.What are its origins? Which states does it cover? What are its strengths? What are the new challenges that the Charter needs to address?This dynamic and accessible publication allows the reader to find out more about an instrument that is of vital importance for the protection of human rights in Europe and elsewhere.

This authoritative Commentary drafted by scholars of the Academic Network on the European Social Charter and Social Rights (ANESC) is aimed both at researchers studying socio-economic rights in Europe, and at legal practitioners; civil society organisations, trade unions and ministerial staff engaging with the procedures of the European Committee of Social Rights. The text is compiled by a large body of expert contributors, working together with an Editorial Board, under the supervision of a Scientific Committee, which reviews the quality of each chapter. The Scientific Committee is composed of the most respected experts on the European Social Charter and Social Rights in Europe. The Commentary will offer approx. 106 Chapters, organized in 8 Volumes, some of which are focused on the substantive state obligations and the jurisprudence of the European Committee of Social Rights, others on the procedures that state representatives, international bodies and applicants must follow to engage with the system of the European Social Charter. Volume 1 deals with Cross-Cutting Themes and is edited by Stefano Angeleri and Carole Nivard.

This collection addresses the potential of the European Social Charter to promote and safeguard social rights in Europe. Drawing on the expertise of the ETUI Transnational Trade Union Rights expert network from across Europe, it provides a comprehensive commentary on these fundamental rights. Taking a two part approach, it offers an in-depth legal analysis of the European Social Charter as a new social constitution for Europe, investigating first the potential of the general legal frame in which the Charter is embedded. In the second phase a series of social rights which are related to the employment relation are examined in particular in light of the jurisprudence of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), to demonstrate the crucial but difficult role of the Charter's supervisory bodies to secure the respect and promotion of social rights and national level, bearing in mind the reciprocal influence of other international social rights instruments. This examination is timely, given the pressure exerted on those rights during the recent period of economic crisis. Furthermore, in the light of the predominantly economic vision of Europe, such analysis is crucial. The collection is aimed at stimulating academic scrutiny and raising awareness amongst practitioners and trade unions about this important and equally necessary anchor of the social dimension of Europe in legal and political practice.

This authoritative commentary prepared by scholars from the Academic Network on the European Social Charter and Social Rights (ANESC) is intended for academic researchers studying social and economic rights in Europe and legal practitioners, civil society organisations, trade unions and state representatives engaging with the procedures of the European Committee of Social Rights. The text comprises contributions from a diverse group of experts, bringing together senior and young scholars from various countries and legal traditions, expertise in social and economic rights, coupled with a commitment to enhancing the European system for regulating these rights. The commentary consists of 106 chapters, organised into eight volumes on the substantive obligations of State Parties to the European Social Charter and the practice of the European Committee of Social Rights. Other chapters delve into the procedures that state representatives, international bodies and applicants must follow to engage with the Charter system. Volume 3, which encompasses Articles 11 to 19, examines critical ESC welfare rights for the general population and specific groups of people against the jurisprudence of the European Committee of Social Rights and other international standards.

This detailed Commentary explores the boundaries of social rights at a European level through analysis of the Revised European Social Charter (RESC), the most comprehensive regional document on social rights. The Commentary considers the treaty as the counterpart of the European Convention on Human Rights, examining how it sets out fundamental rights in the social field. It focuses primarily on the rich jurisprudence developed by the Charter’s monitoring body, the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR).

The European Social Charter is the only treaty in European law to apply to all the aspects of social protection that are the core of the European social model. It guarantees the right to: social security; the right to social and medical assistance; and the right to benefit from social services. This book explains the content of these provisions, and the case law of the European Committee of Social Rights in the light of recent developments in Europe. The study gives further insight into the scope of the Charter's protection and the fundamental social rights of individuals confronted with various risks, such as illness, old age and poverty.

A. No major gaps

Cycle - part II).