Tackling the rise of living costs

Towards a progressive approach from the Baltics. Vilnius Conference
Speakers

03 - 04/11/2022
09:00 - 18:00
Vilnius, Lithuania
Tackling the rise of living costs
59645
tackling-the-rise-of-living-costs
0

In order to give you access to our events, FEPS processes your personal data together with any other organiser of this event mentioned in the description of the event and in accordance with 'FEPS’ data protection policy.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its consequences has placed humanity’s most pressing global challenges into the limelight. Climate change, rampant poverty, and the erosion of political and civic freedoms have resurfaced as political priorities because of the fundamental need to ensure food, energy and income security.

The aim of the ‘Tackling the Rise of Living Costs’ conference in Vilnius was to gather key experts and stakeholders to discuss what needs to be done to alleviate the societal burden of the extraordinary rise of living costs. In doing so, the meeting provided valuable inputs to the progressive forces in the Baltics for further concerted action.

The geographic location of the meeting is significant. In Lithuania, as well as in the Baltic region more generally the inflation shock is one of the highest within the European Union. Take Latvia and Estonia for example. Baltic democracies also suffer from high socio-economic inequality. Given uncertain economic growth, these inequalities could be a path for longer-term destabilization, which may also have broader repercussions within the EU.

However, this crisis comes with a disruptive potential for the European political and economic status quo. In other words, we face a real possibility of a great transformation of our political and economic regime. What is at stake, therefore, is whether we will be able to both uphold and further enhance our core democratic ideals. This is the principal link that unites the conference sessions under the umbrella of progressive action.

The conference included three policy-oriented discussions involving experts and stakeholders. Each one of them deals with a concrete dimension of the societal contract affected by the rise of living costs. Namely, macroeconomic governance, labour relations, and sustainable development. The conference was finalized by a discussion between politicians – former European commissioners and members of the European Parliament from the region. It helped us reflect on the future of European integration, as an essential framework for implementing any sensible progressive innovations. 

Event location: Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University.

Network
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Institute for Solidarity (LSDP)
Find all related publications
Publications
22/11/2023

The macro-economic impact of the cost crisis

Lessons for Europe
18/09/2023

Making trade work for prosperity, people and planet

FEPS Primers series - Arancha González and Yanis Bourgeois
01/09/2023

Bidding farewell to workfare?

Recovery Watch series
09/06/2023

Governing the RRF

Recovery Watch series
Find all related events
Events
Upcoming
07/12/2023
European Parliament (Hybrid)

A blueprint for a Social and Green Deal

Follow-up Event of the Beyond Growth Conference
Past
06/11/2023
FEPS HQ

The future of work in Europe

Implications for equity and growth in Europe
08/11/2023
Brussels, Belgium

Social investments for resilient economies and societies

EU fiscal rules fit for future
Find all related news
News
29/11/2023

Economic Democracy

FEPS has launched an initiative on Economic Democracy
09/10/2023

Tax the rich

A European Citizens' Initiative
14/09/2023

Call for tender – Researcher on inflation

This call for tender closed on 03/10/23
20/02/2023

Let’s end involuntary unemployment!

European survey on the perception of unemployment and publicly funded jobs
Find all related in the media
In the media

“Trade doesn’t work in isolation from good domestic policies” Interview to Arancha González

by Borderlex 19/09/2023
Interview to Arancha González, former Spanish foreign minister, who released together with FEPS the new book entitled 'The Trade Handbook: Making Trade Work for Prosperity, People and Planet'

A szociális unió imperatívusza

by Új Egyenlőség 09/09/2023
'The imperative of Social Union'. Article about FEPS book 'Europe’s Social Integration: Welfare Models and Economic Transformations' by László Andor.

Após 66 anos de adiamentos, a barragem do Pisão entrou em contra-relógio

by Pùblico 19/08/2023
'After 66 years of postponements, the Pisão dam has entered a race against time' Pùblico's article mentions FEPS Policy Study 'Governing the RRF'

Ukrainian economy and society: whither the (postwar) country?

by Commons 16/06/2023
In Commons' article, Yuliya Yurchenko, co-author of FEPS’ book 'Europe and the war in Ukraine', outlines the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine for the Ukrainian population and the plans needed for Ukraine's recovery.