European Commission launches consultation to simplify building regulations

Brussels –The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather evidence on how to simplify the rules that affect housing supply and affordability. The initiative will form part of a Housing Simplification Package, due to be introduced in 2027 as part of the European Plan for Affordable Housing. National, regional, and local authorities, along with stakeholders from the construction and financial sectors and from civil society, are invited to participate until 30 September 2026. According to the Commission, regulatory fragmentation across Member States creates complexity, slows down processes, and increases costs, exacerbating the housing crisis affecting the whole of the EU. Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, said: “To build better, more and faster, the building sector needs simpler rules.” The aim is to reduce red tape and delays without lowering environmental and social standards. The Commission has already proposed over twelve simplification packages, with an estimated saving of 18 billion euros a year. Participants are invited to distinguish between the effects arising from EU legislation and those attributable to national transposition.

Article written with the assistance of AI.