European Social Standards in the Context of a Modern Model of Sources of Social Security Law: A Scientific and Theoretical Aspect

• Main Author: Viktor Kostiuk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy 2018-12-01
• Series: Наукові записки НаУКМА: Юридичні науки
• Subjects: social policy; social welfare; european social standards; european social charter; european code of social security; sources of social security law; legislation on social security
• Online Access: http://nrplaw.ukma.edu.ua/article/view/153121

The article reveals the issues related to the legal characteristic of European social standards and their impact on the development of the latest model of sources of social security law. It is noted that the European model of social security (protection) is characterized by such features as promoting the development of an inclusive society; implying the responsibility of society and the state for effective social policy; availability of an effective and accessible system of social rights; aiming at forming a high level of social standards, guarantees, as well as the quality of life of a person; sufficiency, efficiency, accessibility of organizational forms and types of social security (protection); availability of effective and flexible legal regulation in the field of social security (protection). The emphasis is on the fact that European social standards should be considered broadly and narrowly. Broadly speaking, European social standards are a set of norms, provisions, and standards of a conceptual nature, contained in international legal acts approved by authorized European institutions and aimed at developing an effective model of social security (protection). In the narrow sense, European social standards are a set of recognized and enshrined in accordance with international legal acts adopted by authorized European institutions of social human rights. The basic features of European social standards are the following: they are the result of the normative activity of authorized European institutions (the Council of Europe, the EU); enshrined in international legal acts of the Council of Europe and the EU; include a system of rules, regulations, and standards for social security; include a system of fundamental social rights; act as a legal basis for the development of social legislation of individual member states of the Council of Europe and the EU; act as a legal basis for the formation of a new system of sources of social security law. The key role of the European Social Charter (revised) and the European Code of Social Security in shaping European social standards is noted, with emphasizing the need to take into account European social standards when formulating a system of sources of social security law, and in particular, in the process of codification of legislation in this area. The basic trends of development of the latest model of sources of social security law are emphasized. It is concluded that the main tendencies of the formation of a modern system of sources of social security law through the prism of European social standards are the following: development and implementation of the National Strategy for Social Reforms and Development of the Law on Social Security; formation of the National Concept for the Implementation of European Social Standards; introduction of the European and scientific socio-legal expertise of draft legal acts on social security; enhancing the effectiveness and accessibility of implementation mechanisms, guaranteeing the legal protection of the right for social protection (social security), and other closely related rights; development and establishment of an effective system of social standards and social guarantees; development, public discussion, and public examination of the draft Social Security Code on the basis of international and European social standards and achievements of leading social law schools; harmonization of state administration on the social policy issues; strengthening of institutional interaction of authorized public authorities, civil society institutions on the issues of adoption and observance of the Code of Social Security; provision of mechanisms for the adoption of acts of domestic law solely on the basis of the codified law on social security (Code of Social Security); implementation of continuous monitoring of compliance with the legislation on social security; introduction of public accountability of authorized power institutions regarding observance of social rights.