Economic law serves to codify the organizations and institutions responsible for the overarching economic organization, meaning it does not concern itself with companies but rather the market.

Economic law encompasses several categories: economic rights, social rights, and cultural rights. These rights aim to ensure a certain quality of life for every citizen.

For example:

  • The right to work (access to employment under suitable conditions, worker protection, etc.)
  • The right to social security (access to housing, medical care, food, etc.)
  • The right to identity and cultural life (right to education, freedom of expression, etc.)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 includes several of these rights, but they are considered a second generation as they are more deep and applicable everywhere.

Belgium, and the European Union more generally, support the promotion and protection of these rights.

There are also international institutions that create charters or conventions to protect certain specific economic, social, or cultural rights.

For example:

  • UNESCO, the United Nations organization for education, science, and culture, which promotes rights and cultural properties.
  • The Council of Europe, which established the European Social Charter of 1961 and the revised Social Charter of 1996.
  • ETC.
economic law