EESC calls for rapid response to housing crisis

Brussels – The housing crisis was the theme of the first ever Housing Forum organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in December. Tackling the problem of access to housing is not only a matter of social justice and preventing exclusion, but also of defusing a major political issue in some EU countries that risks being exploited by populist forces. “As we confront a severe housing crisis affecting almost all Member States, I underline the urgent need to ensure that affordable, sustainable and decent housing becomes a reality for all,” said EESC President Oliver Röpke.

Housing is the largest expenditure for EU households. Since 2010, house prices have increased by 47% and rents by 18% (according to 2023 Eurostat). Construction costs, mortgage rates and less construction have made it harder to supply houses. Prices are rising, especially in cities. Low-income households, urban dwellers and young people are hit hardest. Member States and the European Union already have potential instruments to alleviate these problems, but their full mobilisation would be achieved by making access to decent housing a ‘fundamental right’ of the EU, as called for by the EESC. This would help to secure funding at EU level (Forum stakeholders called for an increase in the EU budget for this purpose) and at national level. And it would promote regulatory solutions to facilitate sustainable, increasingly climate-friendly, yet affordable construction for Europeans.

The EESC opinion on ‘Social housing in the EU – decent, sustainable and affordable’ recognises that there is a market failure in the housing sector. This needs to be addressed by improving data management, coordination, authorisation procedures and land-use planning rules, implementing the ‘housing first’ approach for homeless people and focusing more on the needs of young people. At the Forum, these EESC’s demands were shared with Dan Jorgensen, the new EU Commissioner for Housing and Energy. We welcome the message from the new Housing Commissioner that our approach should be based on values, rules and investment. We are ready to show how we can deliver the homes our people and societies need,’ said Bent Madsen, President of Housing Europe.

During the debate, EESC representatives raised the idea of setting up and participating in an expert group to assist Commissioner Jorgensen in developing a housing policy together with the social partners represented by the EESC. The housing crisis in the EU is real. We need a comprehensive European action plan that establishes the right to housing in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights,” said Thomas Kattnig, who drafted the EESC opinion on social housing in the EU together with Rudolf Kolbe.