Price hikes in transport, energy and housing: the role of quality public services in tackling the high cost of living

Key points

The EESC:

• underlines that services of general interest (SGIs) can ensure access to essential services for a decent life and can mitigate the impact of inflation and crises due to their non-profit-driven spirit;

• advocates greater scope for long-term investment in social infrastructure and emphasizes the importance of public investment in accessible and affordable housing;

• highlights that reducing fossil fuel subsidies can provide short-term support for vulnerable households and more durable solutions for decarbonised electricity and heating systems, renovations and access to affordable SGIs;

• stresses that the special rules for SGIs and services of general economic interest (SGEIs) regarding state aid and public procurement must be thoroughly revised;

• emphasises that public transport plays a crucial role in safeguarding high-quality, universal and affordable mobility, and social and ecological investments in multimodal and interconnected public transport are therefore needed;

• underlines that addressing energy and transport poverty requires clear definitions, binding targets, and exchange of best practices, and that the Social Climate Fund and social climate plans are vital tools to combat energy and transport poverty;

• supports the accelerated expansion of grids and renewable energy through faster and simplified permit-granting processes, efforts to encourage major consumers to generate their own renewable energy and the development of trans-European networks as critical infrastructure.