The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has launched work on a major package of recommendations to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, starting with four new opinions adopted at its April plenary session. This is the first block in a series of eight opinions focused on a specific aspect of the crisis — from economic fallout to social cohesion, employment, sustainability, and more.

The goal? To propose a coordinated, cross-cutting strategy that goes beyond short-term fixes and helps build real, lasting resilience across the EU. The process will conclude in July 2025 with an umbrella opinion summarising all of the proposals in one policy message.

First set of recommendations:

• The opinion ‘Measures for a resilient, cohesive and inclusive European economy’ calls for a shift from crisis response to long-term resilience, urging coordinated EU action to address inflation’s lasting impact, especially on vulnerable groups. Key proposals include a resilience monitoring system, investment in infrastructure and skills, stronger labour standards and aligning competitiveness with social and environmental goals.
• The opinion ‘Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies while ensuring European competitiveness’ urges a socially fair phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, starting with the most harmful. It calls for clear EU guidance, better reporting and strong job protection. The opinion also recommends ending support for new fossil fuel infrastructure, revising tax and State aid rules, and boosting clean energy investment and international cooperation.
• The opinion ‘How single market dysfunctionalities contribute to the rising cost of living’ pushes for action to address dysfunctions in the single market that drive up prices. It targets barriers and advocates for stronger enforcement of EU law, completion of the Capital Markets Union, better labour mobility, improved infrastructure and access to healthcare. Housing market rules should also be assessed for their impact on affordability.
• The opinion ‘Price hikes in transport, energy and housing: the role of quality public services in tackling the high cost of living’ underscores the importance of services of general interest in easing crisis impacts. It calls for greater public investment in social infrastructure, housing and transport; reform of State aid rules; and the repurposing of fossil fuel subsidies to fund greener solutions. It stresses the need for decisive action against energy and transport poverty, and calls for faster progress on renewables, grid expansion and permitting. (tk)

Europe must strive to invest in its defence and security while also preserving its social model. Financial trade-offs might be needed due to geopolitical challenges that require us to rethink European priorities. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) can facilitate honest social dialogue on the EU’s new needs.

The EESC’s April plenary session addressed EU foreign policy in view of the new geopolitical climate and complex and growing threats for Europe. In this context, the EESC is stepping in as a partner grounded in social and democratic dialogue.

EESC President Oliver Röpke stressed: ‘The EESC will continue to ensure that citizens’ concerns shape concrete policies that protect our social model and reinforce Europe’s role on the global stage. Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security and defence in a rapidly changing world.’

The debate incorporated input from the EESC’s ad hoc group on the new geopolitical order, which was represented by Elena Calistru, Winand Quaedvlieg and Sophia Reisecker. The group’s paper reflects on the cost of maintaining Europe’s strategic autonomy, which is imperative for strengthening the EU’s resilience.

The debate highlighted the fact that these new geopolitical challenges could lead to new opportunities and beneficial cooperation among EU Member States. The Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, stressed how important it was for Member States to work together on joint defence procurement.

Iratxe García Pérez, head of the European Parliament’s Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, warned against negotiating on EU values and encouraged European citizens to defend truth and the rule of law.

In his statement, Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive and Chief Economist at the European Policy Centre, cautioned against ‘falling into the progress illusion’, explaining that Europe had not done enough to prevent a future war, including ‘Russian boots in the Baltic states’. To address this, Pierre Haroche, Associate Researcher of Defence at the Jacques Delors Institute, called for new defence coordination in Europe, as ‘we have no NATO to defend Ukraine’. (at)