At its December plenary, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its inaugural Housing Forum, spotlighting the EU’s housing crisis and the urgent need for affordable, sustainable, and decent homes. The forum marked a significant moment with the adoption of the EESC’s opinion Social housing in the EU – decent, sustainable and affordable, a call to action for a comprehensive approach to housing.
Housing Europe’s President, Bent Madsen insisted on the need to view housing as a vital societal infrastructure, comparable to health and education. “We welcome the sentiment from the new housing Commissioner, who stressed that our approach should be based on values, rules, and investment. Public, cooperative, and social housing providers are ready to deliver the homes that Europe needs,” he affirmed.
Andres Jaadla, rapporteur on housing for the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and our member in Estonia, underlined the need for strengthened coordination and annual EU housing summits. “Such summits will align efforts across stakeholders and Member States to address the housing crisis effectively,” he added.
EESC rapporteur Thomas Kattnig called for a European action plan on housing, stressing the importance of enshrining the right to housing in EU law. The report also recommends investing in sustainable construction, enhancing market transparency, and focusing on youth and social justice to ensure no one is left behind.
You can re-watch the plenary here.
Bent Madsen, our President of Housing Europe, also welcomed the Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) to BL’s offices in Copenhagen. The visit, held in preparation for the new pan-European housing finance platform, focused on aligning efforts to address Europe’s housing crisis. We continue a dialogue with the EIB to maximise the platform’s impact on affordable and sustainable housing solutions.