Although housing policy is a competence of European Union (EU) countries, the European Commission (EC) has received “numerous calls for a coordinated EU response to address the shortage of adequate and affordable housing and the escalating costs in EU countries”, reads the ‘Call for Contributions to the European Affordable Housing Plan’. In this context, the Working Group on Housing, set up within the EC, has been holding a public consultation since July 11 and until October 17 on the problem of the lack of affordable housing in EU countries.
The call doesn't present concrete solutions, but it does set out clear objectives, namely: “to mobilize investment in the supply of housing at national, regional and municipal level; to facilitate access to decent, sustainable and affordable housing for those most in need, as well as for families and young people; and to eliminate other obstacles to the supply of housing, ensuring a better match between supply and demand.”
The European Affordable Housing Plan will “promote policy actions in areas such as financing and investment, housing supply and affordability and access to finance, while taking into account the needs of the most vulnerable”. And it will develop “ways to promote and encourage public and private investment, pursue the digitization of processes and speed up licensing and public procurement, as well as improve the functioning of rental markets.” It will also “build on a comprehensive approach in the field of construction, addressing skills shortages, improving working conditions and facilitating the provision of construction services”.
To find solutions, the EC is calling for the participation of the main stakeholders in the EU housing markets, such as: social housing providers, landlord and tenant organizations and the real estate sector; construction and renovation sectors and retailers, as well as producers of construction and renovation materials and appliances; social partners; civil society organizations; financial institutions and actors; academic and research institutions; training institutes; urban planners and architects; the general public, including young people; organizations supporting the homeless and other vulnerable people, and representing the interests of young people and families; health, tourism and mobility associations.
The consultation marks the second phase of gathering stakeholders' views on all areas relevant to affordable housing in the EU, such as financing, state aid, simplification and short-term renting, among others.
In a statement, the European Commissioner for Housing, Dan Jørgensen, stresses that “the voice of our citizens is extremely important in defining a European Affordable Housing Plan (...) If we want to ensure that all Europeans have decent, sustainable and affordable housing, we must work together at all levels of governance and sectors.”
Take part in the Public Consultation HERE.
Image credits: © Victor | Unsplash
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