10
Mar
2026
Watch
Housing crisis in the European Union with the aim of proposing solutions for decent, sustainable and affordable housing (debate)
Dear Chair, Dear colleagues, Commissioner Jergensen, Housing is a sense of security, the basis of the family and also an economic issue. The challenges vary greatly from one Member State to another. While short-term rental housing is under pressure in southern Europe, the challenges in the Baltic States are quite different for the five-storey immigrants built during the Soviet occupation. It is difficult for young people to buy their first home because the demands of banks are too high. For seniors and families, heating bills in non-insulated buildings are a heavy burden. Housing is the responsibility of the Member States and a common solution for the whole of Europe will not work – we acknowledge this in our committee's report, but the main lines of action are clear. First, more investment is needed in renovations and energy efficiency by improving state aid rules. This means lower bills and a better quality of life. Second, the supply of affordable housing needs to be increased, both through the construction of new and empty buildings, brownfield sites in line with the principles of sustainability and the New Bauhaus, through the European Investment Platform in cooperation with the European Investment Bank and Member State development banks. Of course, bureaucracy must be reduced. Excessive requirements make projects more expensive and lengthen them. Digitalisation is very important. Finally, investments need to be made in the regions. Especially on Europe's eastern border, as increased depopulation is also a security issue.