Despite the easing of inflation in many countries, the cost-of-living crisis continues to affect millions of people across Europe, especially low- and middle-income households, pensioners, young people, single-parent families and other vulnerable groups.
Rising prices for food, energy, housing, transport and essential services have eroded purchasing power and placed growing pressure on wages, pensions and social protection systems. In many member States, these pressures have deepened poverty, in-work poverty, energy poverty, housing insecurity and inequalities.
The European Social Charter (ETS No. 35) guarantees fundamental social rights, including the rights to fair remuneration, social security, social and medical assistance, protection against poverty and social exclusion, housing and protection of families Furthermore, the European Committee of Social Rights has recently published a review on social rights and the cost-of-living crisis.
The cost-of-living crisis is not only an economic challenge, but also a social rights and democratic challenge. When people cannot meet basic needs despite working or relying on pensions and social benefits, confidence in institutions and social cohesion is undermined.
The Parliamentary Assembly should therefore prepare a report on the cost-of-living crisis in Europe and its impact on social rights, with particular attention to wages, pensions, social protection, energy poverty, housing costs, access to essential goods and services, and measures required to protect vulnerable groups and strengthen the effective implementation of the European Social Charter.