With 319 votes in favour, 171 against and 138 abstentions, MEPs passed a report on March 15 demanding that the EU take action to address the rising cost of living.

With this report, MEPs call for several social protection measures to be implemented, including the immediate implementation of the Minimum Wages Directive and an EU Directive on minimum income schemes, the allocation of at least €20 billion to support the European Child Guarantee scheme, and the expansion of the Social Climate Fund to facilitate the creation of environmentally-friendly social protection programmes at the national level.

Furthermore, MEPs urge the Commission to introduce new legislation guaranteeing access to essential services such as housing, energy, transportation, water and waste, as well as prohibiting energy disconnections for vulnerable groups.

To combat unemployment, the employment framework should also boost the European instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) and prioritize the provision of education, training, paid internships, and employment opportunities for young people throughout Europe.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “It is time to address the pressing issue of rising living costs, ensuring that every person in Europe has access to essential services and can live with dignity. We must prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society and invest in their future, creating sustainable social protection programmes that benefit all. This is not only a moral imperative but an economic one, as a healthy and supported population is essential for the prosperity of our society as a whole.”