Community input sought for proposed low-cost housing initiative
The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather opinions on affordable housing within the European Union (EU) to combat the escalating housing crisis. This initiative, set to run until June 4, will be followed by a more detailed consultation from June to October.
Throughout 2025, the commission plans to engage in a dialogue on affordable housing to address a growing issue affecting millions of EU citizens, particularly large city dwellers, tourists, and individuals in high-demand areas.
Soaring house prices, rising utility costs, and expensive renovations have placed undue pressure on families across the EU. Since 2015, house prices, adjusted for inflation, have risen by more than 20%, and rents for a one-bedroom apartment in major EU cities have surged by an average of 48%.
To tackle the mounting housing crisis, the Commission has created a newly established portfolio that incorporates the Energy and Housing sectors. Improving housing affordability is now a political priority, with the European Commission appointing its first-ever housing commissioner, Dan Jorgensen from Denmark.
In support of this cause, the European Parliament has established a special committee on the housing crisis, comprising MEPs Isilda Gomes (PS) and Sebastião Bugalho (PSD).
The commission has also addressed affordable housing as part of broader initiatives, such as the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus (NEB), aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive living environments. The NEB Facility provides support for projects that revolve around the sustainable transformation of the built environment, including affordable housing. Horizon Europe, a research and innovation fund, also allocates significant resources to calls that target improving housing access in both urban and rural areas.
Ultimately, the European Commission's strategy to alleviate the housing crisis focuses on embedding the issue within wider sustainability and inclusivity efforts, prioritizing research, innovation, and community empowerment to ensure accessible, sustainable, and socially responsible housing solutions.
In light of the European Commission's efforts to combat the housing crisis, there is a growing emphasis on improving affordable housing as a crucial aspect of both politics and general-news. The commission's recent appointment of a housing commissioner and the establishment of a special committee on the housing crisis underscore the importance of finance in addressing this issue. Additionally, the commission's approach to affordable housing is integrated within broader initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus, highlighting the potential for business and finance to collaborate in finding sustainable solutions for affordable housing within the European Union.
