In its just released 2024 Activity Report the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) of the Council of Europe has called on European governments to ensure that the net minimum wage represents at least 60% of the national net average wage; for caps on staple-food prices and more targeted supports; guarantee stable access to affordable energy; address housing affordability and homelessness risks through rent caps, increased housing benefits, and expansion of social housing; ensure social security keeps pace with inflation.
The recommendations are part of the special focus on how European countries have responded to the cost-of-living crisis. The report states that in 2024, the ECSR conducted a comprehensive review of measures addressing the cost-of-living crisis, drawing on reports from 41 signatory countries and submissions from social partners, civil society organisations, and national human-rights institutions. Its findings showed that in 2023, food prices rose more than seven times faster than wages, hitting low-income families particularly hard. Although inflation eased in 2024, living costs remained high, exposing persistent gaps in wage protection, housing, and social support.
The report also reviews developments under the collective complaints procedure and the ECSR's cooperation with other Council of Europe bodies and international organisations. Throughout 2024, the ECSR adopted a total of 12 decisions on the merits and 12 decisions on admissibility. Ten new collective complaints - lodged by national trade unions, international NGOs, and employers' organisations - were registered against six signatory countries: Spain (4), Italy (2), Belgium (1), France (1), Greece (1), and Norway (1).
As well as holding exchanges with the European Court of Human Rights, the Commissioner for Human Rights, national human-rights institutions, equality bodies, and national governments, 2024 was marked by the Conference on the European Social Charter, held in Vilnius under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of Europe. The conference brought together ministers, senior officials, Council of Europe leaders, international organisations, social partners and civil society. It resulted in the adoption of the Vilnius Declaration, which reaffirmed the indivisibility of all human rights and called for a stronger social-rights framework across Europe. It generated new commitments from member States, including Iceland's ratification of the revised Charter, additional provisions accepted by Andorra, Ireland and Moldova, and pledges by Armenia to increase commitments.
A second conference is now planned for March 2026 in Chișinău under the Moldovan Presidency.
Read the report in full
European Committee of Social Rights
