Drepturile sociale

The EESC Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC) organised a hearing on "Accessible and Affordable Housing for All: Ensuring Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the EU". It brought together voices from the EU institutions, civil society, disability organisations and housing experts to address the urgent challenge of affordable and accessible housing across Europe.

At its July 2025 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a landmark opinion calling for a comprehensive EU strategy to support, protect and empower civil society. The opinion, requested by the European Commission, outlines a blueprint for a more structured, inclusive and resilient civil dialogue framework across the EU.

At its July 2025 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion on the European Commission’s “Union of Skills” initiative, calling for a bold, inclusive and well-funded strategy to equip Europe’s workforce with the skills needed for the green and digital transitions, global competitiveness, and social cohesion.

At its July 2025 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an own-initiative opinion calling for urgent action to address growing inequalities in access to healthcare across the EU. The opinion highlights how inflation, poverty, and systemic barriers are deepening health disparities, and urges both Member States and the European Commission to act decisively.

At its July 2025 plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a pivotal opinion calling for the creation of a robust, rights-based EU Anti-Poverty Strategy (APS). This strategy, requested by the European Commission, aims to eradicate extreme poverty across the Union by recognising it not as an unfortunate by-product of economic systems, but as a systemic injustice and a violation of fundamental rights.

The EESC:

• underscores the strategic importance of a high-quality, inclusive education and a skilled workforce for Europe’s competitiveness, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Addressing current challenges requires bold, systemic reforms and investment in inclusive, high-quality education and training systems;

• stresses that the success of the Union of skills depends on effective and cooperative governance, adequate financing, and inclusive representation of social partners, national authorities and other stakeholders, including civil society organisations, teachers and learners

The EESC:

• Believes the APS should be intersectional and gender-responsive, based on a multidimensional definition of poverty
• Recommends setting ambitious, measurable targets, including the eradication of extreme poverty, and framing poverty as a violation of fundamental rights
• Proposes key elements for the APS

The EESC:

• Warns of rising healthcare inequalities in the EU, worsened by the cost-of-living crisis and affecting the most vulnerable
• Urges support for low-income individuals through reduced or reimbursed health and long-term care costs
• Reaffirms that access to healthcare is a fundamental right and calls for full implementation of principles 16 and 18 of the EPSR