The EU unveiled the bloc’s first European Affordable Housing Plan

The European Union presented on Tuesday Strasbourg “Europe’s first ever affordable housing plan”, designed to answer one of the most pressing problems of European citizens – access towards quality, sustainable and affordable housing.

According to the statement European Commissionmillions of inhabitants EU today we face with the inability to find housing at an affordable price. Over the past decade, the cost of housing in the countries of the Union has increased by more than 60%and rental rates are more than 20%which directly affects employment, education and family formation.

The Commission emphasizes that this is the first time that coordinated European intervention in the housing crisis, taking into account the national characteristics of each Member State.

The plan focuses on increasing housing supplyinvestment mobilization and reforms, regulation short term rental in areas of housing pressure, as well as supporting the most vulnerable groups – youth, students, key workers, people with low incomes and other socially vulnerable categories.

Main measures of the plan

Within European Housing Strategy The Commission proposes measures to improve the productivity and innovation of the construction sector to close the gap between supply and demand in the housing market.

Through initiative New European Bauhaus (NEB)* The EU will support projects that combine green transition, innovation and social accessibilitywith a focus on sustainable construction and building renovation.

The Academy of the New European Bauhaus will improve the skills of workers in the construction industry, promoting sustainable and circular practices. Simultaneously updated rules EU state aid will make it easier to finance affordable and social housing at a national level.

The Commission also intends to cooperate with national, regional and municipal authorities to simplification of urban planning procedures and licensingwhich today restrain the growth of housing supply.

A new one was announced separately legislative initiative on short-term rentalsaimed at supporting regions experiencing acute housing pressure.

An important element will be the creation Pan-European Investment Platform in collaboration with European Investment Banknational and regional development banks, as well as international financial institutions.

The plan also provides tools to more effectively combat homelessness, based on the principles “Housing First”in which housing is seen as a basic right rather than as a reward for social adaptation.

Investments and next steps

During the presentation, it was noted that to date the EU has already mobilized about 43 billion euros investment in the housing sector and intends to continue financing within the next long-term Union budget.

Will be created soon European Housing Alliance Platformbringing together Member States, cities, regions, EU institutions, housing organizations and social partners to put the plan into practice.

The commission promised to report on progress and also announced first ever EU Housing Summitwhich will take place in 2026.

*Reference: New European Bauhaus (NEB) This:

• political-cultural European Commission initiative,

• connecting architecture, ecology, design and social policy,

• under the slogan: beautiful, sustainable, affordable.

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