During discussions on social issues people often refer to the European Social Policy (ESP). Very few people in our country can say what the ESP means.
The name itself and the imaginations about the working conditions of European people help us understand that it is a policy which eventually helps to develop their living conditions. However, the development of living conditions is only one of the goals of the ESP. The social policy implemented in European countries is also targeted at the development of working conditions, encouragement of employment and creation of equal opportunities, creation of the minimum standards of social protection. For the purpose of reaching these goals there are tools such as the European social foundation, projects, legislation, as well as the norms and regulations in separate countries. Even though the European policy has improved much in the social sector, and the legal acts in separated countries are being made consistent with the European requirements, there is a long way to reach the real social union. The most important aspects of labor and employment legislation still continue to be under the regulation of the member countries. The most important thing is not the complex solution of the disputable issues (starting from unemployment and ending up with the future wealth), but the fact that an open discussion has been launched in Europe on the topic of the future model of the European society.
The human rights declaration 1948 includes the entire spectrum of human rights, where together with the civic and political rights and freedoms there are also economic, social and cultural rights. But the European convention of human rights covered the civic and political rights only. As an addition to the convention of October 18, 1961, the social charter was signed in Turin, which was enforced on February 26, 1965.
The problem is that the rights included in the European convention have so called negative, protective character; these are to protect people from the interference of the state. The state should not do actions, which may violate the freedoms of people. For the purpose of the fulfillment of the social and economic rights, as a rule, the state should render certain services. These are formulated as assignments for the future and components of the future development levels. The charter focuses on these issues; on the one hand it defines the social and economic rights as the goals of the state, on the one hand it covers under the norms guaranteed by the state by defining it as a responsibility. Now we will try to write how much has the European policy influenced on Armenia as a neighbor and partner. The European Neighborhood Project (ENP) action plan includes provision on social and economic cooperation as well. Specifically, in a separate provision it writes that Armenia should approach the European standards in the sectors of employment and social policy. It also attaches importance to the development of the social protection system. In a separate provision it writes that the EU will support Armenia to implement strategic projects to fight poverty. As the social issues are directly connected with economic development and trade opportunities, it is important to improve the investment environment, including transparency and predictability. The action plan writes the following about the cooperation role: “One of the main goals of the implementation of the ENP for Armenia is a new opportunity of quality integration with the social, economic and trade sectors through accessing the EU, which are stipulated by the main documents of the ENP.” In fact in order to succeed in the social sector there should be reforms in all sectors such as the legislation, political, economic and other sectors. The EU can now advise and recommend us what to do, even though our Constitution writes that “The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, social, legal, democratic state.”
Latvia occupies the first place in the EU among the countries, which have a line below poverty level. According to the Eurostat data in Latvia the poor people make 26% of the population. The second place is occupied by Rumania, where poverty level is 23%. The third place is taken by Bulgaria – 20%. The level of poverty in the EU was averagely 17%. The lowest of poverty level have the Czech Republic (9%), Holland and Slovakia (11%). In Denmark, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Sweden 12% of the population is poor.