Organised civil society meets in Warsaw and urges stronger EU action on living and working conditions

The annual meeting of the Presidents and Secretaries-General of the Economic and Social Councils (ESCs) of the EU and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) took place in Warsaw on 25–26 June 2025. This year's discussions focused on one of the EU’s most urgent priorities for citizens: improving living and working conditions across the Union.

ESCs from thirteen Member States took part in the meeting, alongside officials from the Polish EU Council Presidency. Economic and Social Councils are advisory bodies that bring together representatives from government, business, labour and civil society to shape economic and social policy. Held under the theme “Improving living and working conditions across the EU: the role of organised civil society”, the event focused on three key areas: economic governance, housing, and employment. It provided a platform for coordinated responses to shared challenges such as the green, digital and demographic transitions, rising geopolitical instability, and a deepening housing crisis.

EESC president, Oliver Röpke opened: 'As Europe faces growing social and economic challenges, dialogue is not a luxury. It is a necessity. The Warsaw Summit sends a strong signal that organised civil society stands ready to help shape fairer working and living conditions across the EU. The EESC is proud to support this joint effort for a more cohesive, democratic and resilient Europe'.

'The EESC and national Economic and Social Councils play a vital role in ensuring that policies are shaped by the real needs of people,' said EESC Secretary-General Isabelle Le Galo Flores. 'By reinforcing our network of national and European bodies, we create stronger partnerships and a clearer, collective voice. Through organised civil society and social partners, we give meaningful expression to millions of citizens, ensuring they are heard by decision-makers across all levels of governance. That is something we can truly be proud of.'

Affordable and sustainable housing for all

With housing increasingly out of reach for many Europeans, especially young people, low-income families and the elderly, ESCs and the EESC called for urgent, coordinated action at both national and EU level. Key recommendations include:

• Increased investment in social and affordable housing
• National and EU strategies to combat homelessness
• Reforming EU fiscal rules to enable more public investment
• Support for energy-efficient renovations and inclusive urban development

Governments must do more to guarantee access to decent, sustainable housing and tackle energy poverty, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The EESC backs initiatives such as the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness and welcomes the appointment of a Commissioner for Energy and Housing. It also calls for an annual EU summit on social and affordable housing to maintain momentum on this issue.

Fair and modern working conditions

Labour markets are evolving fast, with demographic shifts, digitalisation and AI reshaping the world of work. ESCs and the EESC emphasised the need to anticipate these changes through stronger investment in people and more inclusive policies. Key proposals include:

• Expanding training, reskilling, and lifelong learning, with a focus on digital skills
• Aligning education and training with labour market needs
• Addressing mental health and work-life balance, including the right to disconnect
• Promoting non-discrimination, decent working conditions and job security

The EESC highlighted the importance of linking the European Pillar of Social Rights to EU economic governance tools like the European Semester and called for stronger collective bargaining and social dialogue to guide the transitions ahead.

A shared commitment to social progress

The meeting closed with a clear message: improving living and working conditions must remain a core EU objective. Achieving this requires inclusive, future-oriented policies that reflect the voice of civil society. ESCs and the EESC reaffirmed their commitment to working with EU institutions to advance social, economic and environmental progress, ensuring no one is left behind.

Reflecting on the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, Undersecretary of State for European Union Affairs, said: 'I believe we have set a new standard for working with civil society, which was remarkably active throughout the Polish Presidency. We organised around 400 events, with civil society involved in the vast majority. Their dedication and input were invaluable in shaping our agenda. This close partnership between civil society and government helped to influence EU-level progress. I am deeply grateful for their engagement, together, I believe we delivered on our mission.'