Social charters
States that adopt social charters must recognise systems of non-binding regulations that provide citizens with basic social rights. The most recent social charter is the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers. It was adopted in December 1989 by the governments of all Member States, except the UK.
The charter - that sets out the rights of workers in EU - was of symbolic importance in obtaining the support of Social Democrats, labour-forces, and trade unions in various Member States for a monetary union. There is another social charter - the original European Social Charter agreed in Turin in 1961 by the Council of Europe.
This charter is composed of 38 articles and contains basic rights such as: the right to work, the right to organise, the right of collective bargaining and the right to social security.