SOCIAL JUSTICE
A Europe that cares
Social justice is about something simple and powerful: Everyone deserves dignity, safety and a real chance at a good life.
Across Europe today, that promise feels under pressure. Inequality is growing. Poverty is rising. Too many people feel the system works for a small few, not for them.
At the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, we don’t accept that this is “just how things are.” A fairer Europe is possible – if we choose people over profit, solidarity over fear, and hope over resignation.
Social justice isn’t an abstract idea. You feel it in your pay slip, your rent, your healthcare, your freedom to move, and your right to be yourself without fear.
Economic justice and fair wages for all
Workers across the EU are creating more wealth than ever, yet many struggle to pay the rent, heat their homes or plan for the future. Wages haven’t kept up with rising prices, while wealth piles up at the very top.
We stand for fair pay, strong workers’ rights and social protection systems that actually work for everyone. Decent work should be the norm, whether you’re a nurse in Portugal, a delivery driver in Germany or a care worker in Poland. No one should be stuck in insecure jobs or zero-hours contracts while others grow rich beyond measure.
Real economic justice means:
- wages you can live on, not just survive on
- strong public services like healthcare and education
- Decent jobs protected from profit-first thinking
Tax justice: The super rich have to pay their fair share
A fair society needs fair taxes. For years, we were told that taxing the rich would hurt the economy. The truth is the opposite, they pay less taxes than their employees. When the ultra-wealthy avoid taxes, everyone else pays the price. Schools lose funding. Hospitals are overstretched. Social housing falls apart.
Today, billions of euros sit hidden in tax havens, while millions of people struggle to make ends meet. If EU countries worked together on a wealth tax and stopped tax abuse, they could raise over €270 billion. That money could be invested in housing, healthcare, education and green infrastructure – improving lives across Europe.
The same problem exists with big tech companies. Tech giants make enormous profits in Europe, yet often pay little or no taxes here. Closing these loopholes and ensuring that big tech pays its fair share is not just about revenue; it’s about holding powerful corporations accountable and making the European economy work for everyone, not just a few billionaires. Let’s make big tech pay.
Tax justice isn’t about punishment. It’s about responsibility. When everyone contributes fairly, society becomes stronger, fairer and more resilient.
Affordable and decent housing is a human right
Housing is one of the biggest challenges that Europe faces. Since 2010, house prices have risen by more than 55%, and rents by over 26%. In many cities, costs rise far faster than wages. Families are forced to spend nearly half their income just to keep a roof over their heads.
Every night, around 1.3 million people in the EU are homeless, including almost 400,000 children. Millions more live in energy poverty, choosing between heating and eating. These are not personal failures. They are political choices that treat homes as investments instead of places to live.
We’ve seen where this leads. The housing bubble that burst in 2007–2008 showed the dangers of turning housing into a commodity. Today, speculators buy up entire buildings, tenants face unfair evictions, and young people are locked out of the housing market altogether.
We fight for:
- fair rents and strong tenant protections
- major investment in social and affordable housing
- Support for renovating homes to cut energy bills and protect the climate
Homes must be for people — not profit.
Equality in everyday life
Social justice means equality where it matters most: in daily life. Too many people still face discrimination because of their gender, ethnicity, physical impairment, sexuality, religion or age. That harms individuals and weakens our communities.
A feminist Europe is essential to a just Europe. That means protecting sexual and reproductive rights, tackling gender-based violence, closing the gender pay gap and defending the rights of LGBTQIA+ people.
It also means making policies that reflect real lives and real diversity. The EU disability card is one example – a step toward real freedom of movement and equal rights for people with disabilities across Europe. We’re pushing to ensure people don’t lose benefits when they move between countries, and that accessibility becomes normal, not exceptional.
We fight for a Europe that works for everyone.
An open and inclusive Europe - Refugees welcome
Social justice doesn’t stop at borders. Europe should be a place of protection, not exclusion. People don’t leave their homes lightly. They flee war, persecution, climate breakdown and economic injustice, often linked to global inequalities Europe has helped to shape. No person should drown at sea or be kept in inhumane detention because of cruel and ineffective migration rules.
We believe in humane asylum systems and ensuring safe and legal pathways for coming to Europe. At a time when migration is often framed as a problem, we know what a positive role migrants have played in building our Union. Every EU country must play their role in sharing responsibility and ensuring the full rights for migrants and refugees are protected. Everyone who lives in Europe should be treated as part of society, with access to services, work and a political voice.
An inclusive Europe is a stronger, richer and more humane Europe.
Green jobs, workers’ rights and climate justice
You can’t separate social justice from climate justice. Moving away from fossil fuels will reshape our economies. The real question is: How can we all benefit?
Green jobs are the future: whether it’s in renewable energy, home renovation, sustainable transport and care work. The green transition can create millions of decent, well-paid jobs, but only if workers’ rights are protected and strengthened.
Climate action must go hand in hand with:
- fair pay and safe working conditions
- strong trade unions and real social dialogue
- Investing in green and sustainable industries
Protecting the planet and protecting people are two sides of the same coin.
Democracy, using your voice and political equality
Social justice also means having a say. Everyone deserves a real voice in decisions that shape their lives, from voting rights to access to trustworthy information, and protection from disinformation and hate.
When people feel heard, democracy grows stronger. When they’re shut out, frustration and fear take over. A fair Europe must deepen democracy, not hollow it out.
Every choice made in the European Parliament – on the economy, climate or technology — affects people’s daily lives. That is why we the Greens/EFA focus on the social impact of everything we do: who it helps, who could be harmed, and whether it makes life fairer and safer. This also means listening to the people most affected by political decisions. When social impact is built into every law and budget choice, Europe works better for people – not just on paper, but in everyday life – becoming fairer, greener and more caring, with no one left behind.
Let’s choose hope - and act on it together
Social justice isn’t a distant dream. It’s built through choices – political choices, collective action and solidarity. We’ve already seen progress, from stronger workers’ rights to new inclusive rules and climate laws that create jobs.
But there’s still more to do. Inequality, poverty and discrimination are the result of policy choices. So is fairness.
We choose a Europe that is welcoming, where no one is left behind, where homes are affordable, work is dignified, and the future is green. We want a Europe that cares – and together, we can turn that plan into reality.
Did you know:
5 WAYS WE’RE MAKING EUROPE WORK FOR EVERYONE
For us, Greens/EFA, social justice isn’t just an idea – it’s a plan for action. In the European Parliament, we fight every day to turn fairness into concrete change, making sure everyone can live with dignity, safety, and opportunity. Here are the five key areas where we are making a difference:
- Economic justice and fair wages – Everyone deserves a salary that covers life (not just survival), strong workers’ rights and social protections
- Affordable and decent housing – Homes are for people, not profit, with fair rents, tenant protections and investment in social housing
- Equality in everyday life – A Europe that fights discrimination, closes the gender pay gap, protects LGBTQIA+ rights and is accessible
- An open and inclusive Europe – Safe, legal pathways for migrants and refugees, shared responsibility across EU countries, and full rights for everyone living here
- Green jobs and climate justice – A fair transition to renewable energy and sustainable industries, creating safe, well-paid jobs while protecting the planet