President Oliver Röpke took center stage at the G20 Social Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, advocating alongside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for urgent reforms in global governance, expanded social protections, and enhanced economic inclusivity. Representing European civil society, President Röpke joined international leaders to address social issues that align with the Brazilian G20 presidency's priorities: combating hunger and inequality, tackling climate change, and advancing just transitions in labor markets.
Paraphrasing Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign slogan – 'It's the economy, stupid!' which at the time very much resonated with American voters grappling with recession – seems more than appropriate today. You just have to look at the results of the latest Eurobarometer EU post-electoral survey which revealed that inflation and the economy were the main topics encouraging people to vote.
Paraphrasing Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign slogan – 'It's the economy, stupid!' which at the time very much resonated with American voters grappling with recession – seems more than appropriate today. You just have to look at the results of the latest Eurobarometer EU post-electoral survey which revealed that inflation and the economy were the main topics encouraging people to vote.
No, there is no one-size-fits-all solution and economic hardship alone cannot explain all the troubles surrounding the elections ahead. However, it is safe to say that rising prices, cost of living and the economic situation were the main voter motivators in the EU last spring and across the Atlantic a few weeks ago. Not that the writing was not on the wall: it was the main concern (followed by poverty and social exclusion) back in early 2023. While macroeconomic indicators seem to give policy makers a pat on the back, the direct impact of inflation on essential goods like food and energy remains severe, disproportionately affecting those who spend a larger share of their income on these necessities. This comes on top of the pandemic recovery and its catastrophic policy response, with many countries still reeling from the aftermath of the 2008 crisis.
Addressing the cost-of-living crisis is crucial for Europe's future, as it highlights structural issues in our societies and economies while challenging the principles that uphold the social fabric of our democracies.
believes that there has been a market failure in housing. This must be tackled by improving framework conditions like data, coordination, approval procedures and land use planning rules, establishing a fundamental right to housing, providing sufficient funding, implementing the ‘Housing First’ approach for homeless people and focusing more on the needs of young people and sustainability;
