News 2025

On 24 March, the European Parliament hosted hundred participants (representatives from EU institutions, national and local authorities, as well as stakeholders from the housing sphere) for a joint High-Level Conference on Affordable Housing, together with the European Commission.

Talks were opened by Irene Tinagli, Chair of the European Parliament’s "Special Committee on Housing" (HOUS), and the EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, who highlighted the critical points in the housing market and discussed potential policies to encourage new affordable residential construction projects across Europe. During the first panel discussion, Commissioner Jørgensen recalled that the European Commission will, amongst others, look at the construction supply, short-term rentals, and focus on housing for students and older people. Very soon, a Consultation on a possible revision of the State aid rules will be launched. A Call for Applications for a future EU Housing Advisory Board will be launched in the near future as well.

During the exchange, many Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and stakeholders recalled the principle of subsidiarity that applies to housing issues. However, many believe that they are things that can be done at the EU level, and call for urgent action. Large parts of the discussions namely focused on the role that can be played by the European Commission, together with the European Investment Bank and national and regional promotional banks to boost funding and attract further private investment to the benefit of sustainable and affordable housing.

Several MEPs and stakeholders however stressed that the housing crisis is not all about money, but also about bottlenecks and obstacles to the construction process (like long permitting procedures or the lack of skilled workers). In any case, everybody seems to agree that there is no one-size-fits-all solution: the housing crisis is an EU problem requiring national and local solutions.

Our Social Affairs Director, Christine Le Forestier, attended the conference: a further momentum to share the value of a series of proposals published for the "European Affordable Housing Plan": a call that our Federation addressed in its POSITION PAPER available at this link.

In his role as official European Social Dialogue partner for the construction sector, FIEC has a 'direct channel' to have its voice heard at EU level. 

More information is available on the European Parliament portal, where you can re-watch the webstreamed conference: click here.