1. At recent Euromed Summits of Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions, it was seen to be necessary to promote the development of social protection in the EuroMediterranean region or area. In the Final Declaration of the Summit held in Nicosia in 2014, the representatives of the economic and social councils and agents from the EuroMediterranean partner countries call on governments, with support from the ILO and other international organisations, to develop an effective social protection floor. This amounts to an investment contributing to wealth creation and is key for reducing the risk of poverty and promoting social inclusion, thus strengthening the potential for economic growth and social cohesion in the countries of the Mediterranean. Also, in the Final Declaration of the Summit held in 2015 in Brussels, attention was called to the need for the new European Neighbourhood Policy to acknowledge the importance of social protection as a factor for cohesion in societies. In line with these statements, the purpose of this report is to emphasise one area of action, that of social protection, which has not yet figured explicitly among priorities for socio-economic cooperation within the Union for the Mediterranean or in the European Neighbourhood Policy. The diversity of and systems for social protection in “networks” the area, as well as the lack of adequate, up-to-date sources of information have contributed to this limited presence of social protection in the projects of the Union for the Mediterranean. The right to social security, as recognised in the article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, implies the entitlement for everyone to realisation, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organisation and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for human dignity and the free development of personality. Social protection is an essential political tool for reducing poverty and inequality while stimulating inclusive growth and social peace, improving human capital and productivity, supporting internal demand and facilitating the structural transformation of national economies. Achieving social protection with universal coverage is an essential task of the ILO ever since the 1952 has Convention (No.102) on Minimum Standards of Social Security,
1. At recent Euromed Summits of Economic and Social Councils and similar institutions, it was seen to be necessary to promote the development of social protection in the EuroMediterranean region or area. In the Final Declaration of the Summit held in Nicosia in 2014, the representatives of the economic and social councils and agents from the EuroMediterranean partner countries call on governments, with support from the ILO and other international organisations, to develop an effective social protection floor. This amounts to an investment contributing to wealth creation and is key for reducing the risk of poverty and promoting social inclusion, thus strengthening the potential for economic growth and social cohesion in the countries of the Mediterranean. Also, in the Final Declaration of the Summit held in 2015 in Brussels, attention was called to the need for the new European Neighbourhood Policy to acknowledge the importance of social protection as a factor for cohesion in societies. In line with these statements, the purpose of this report is to emphasise one area of action, that of social protection, which has not yet figured explicitly among priorities for socio-economic cooperation within the Union for the Mediterranean or in the European Neighbourhood Policy. The diversity of “networks” and systems for social protection in the area, as well as the lack of adequate, up-to-date sources of information have contributed to this limited presence of social protection in the projects of the Union for the Mediterranean. The right to social security, as recognised in the article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, implies the entitlement for everyone to realisation, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organisation and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for human dignity and the free development of personality. Social protection is an essential political tool for reducing poverty and inequality while stimulating inclusive growth and social peace, improving human capital and productivity, supporting internal demand and facilitating the structural transformation of national economies. Achieving social protection with universal coverage is an essential task of the ILO ever since the 1952 Convention (No.102) on Minimum Standards of Social Security, has
basic_levels_of_social_protection_euromed_region_en.docx