Housing Europe starts official cooperation with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
New Year, new collaboration
Brussels, Belgium, 3 January 2024 | Published in Energy, Social, Future of the EU & Housing
Beginning this Monday (January 1), the EU Belgian Presidency took the helm of the Council of the EU, marking a significant date also on Housing Europe's team calendar. The Secretariat has been chosen to provide substantial support to the government across various topics linked to decent and affordable housing.
Our primary focus will be crafting a comprehensive set of policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the availability of quality and affordable housing.
These recommendations - gathered from the firsthand experience of +43.000 public, cooperative, and social housing providers across Europe - will be presented on March 5, when 27 housing ministers from the EU will convene in the Belgian city of Liège. Our team will play a major role in the organisation of the conference.
What does the Belgian team promise to work on in the upcoming six months ahead of the EU elections?
"In times marked by significant socio-economic disruption within the European Union, the need for a Europe that protects has never been clearer. In the field of employment and social policy, the Belgian Presidency will work towards an ambitious and future-proof social agenda. To deliver a stronger social safety net for European citizens and a labour market equipped for the future, the Presidency will seek to complete the important remaining files before the close of the current legislature. Special emphasis will be placed on socio-economic governance. Furthermore, the Presidency will devote its efforts to consolidating the European Pillar of Social Rights, setting forth a robust social agenda for 2024-2029. As ever, the aim will be to foster a European society that is more inclusive, gender-equal, and fair for all."
You can hear more about the housing ambitions of the EU Belgian Presidency by Wallonia's Minister of Housing, Christophe Collignon who will be a speaker at the launch of Housing Europe's Manifesto on January 25.
Find the full programme of the EU Presidency for the next six months.