Housing crisis in the EU: from analysis to implementation

On Tuesday, MEPs met with representatives of the European Commission, policymakers, civil society, financial institutions and citizens to discuss how to implement effective housing policies.

At a high-level event organised by the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU and the European Commission, participants discussed the practical delivery of EU measures to address the housing crisis.

Irene Tinagli, chair of the special committee, said: “Today’s event marks a shift from analysis to implementation in addressing Europe’s housing crisis. For over a year now, our committee has worked closely with the European Commission, policymakers, civil society, financial institutions and citizens to identify the root causes of the crisis and develop concrete solutions addressing all its dimensions. Today’s meeting gave us the opportunity to focus on how these measures can now be effectively delivered.

“The conditions are in place: Parliament and the Commission have set out a clear roadmap and housing is, for the first time, recognised among Parliament’s priorities for the next EU budget. We are ready to act and count on the commitment of member states, and regional and local authorities. Ensuring access to decent and affordable housing for all must be central to any strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s cohesion and competitiveness.”

Financing the housing transition

During the first panel on the financing aspect of the housing transition, speakers discussed Parliament’s recent report which identifies housing as a priority for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), and called on EU co-legislators to earmark dedicated funding for housing, in particular for public and social housing.

Participants stressed the need to mobilise public and private investment, including through the Pan-European Investment Platform and existing EU instruments such as InvestEU and the European Social Fund, alongside targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups. Civil society representatives also argued that the current crisis is not only driven by insufficient investment, but also by speculative practices, and they called for safeguards to prevent the further financialisation of housing.

Focus on construction and renovation

The second panel addressed housing supply, with some speakers advocating simplifying administrative procedures and a more harmonised regulatory framework as means to reduce construction costs.

At the same time, they stressed that an increasing supply must not come at the expense of environmental and energy standards. Housing policies should support social inclusion, climate resilience and long-term affordability. Construction associations also highlighted the benefits of off-site and modular construction - including faster delivery, cost efficiency, reduced waste and improved energy performance - while underlining the need to step up renovation alongside new construction.

Access to housing for students and young people

The final panel focused on access to housing, particularly for young people and vulnerable groups. Representatives of youth and student organisations explained the difficulties in accessing affordable housing in major cities, where student accommodation is often scarce and more costly than normal housing.

Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen referred to ongoing work with the European Investment Bank on possible guaranteed schemes to ease access to housing, including for students, and to provide greater clarity on the measures public authorities can take in high-pressure housing markets.

Background

On 11 March 2026, Parliament adopted its recommendations on the housing crisis in the European Union, aimed at promoting decent, sustainable and affordable housing. The Commission presented the first European affordable housing plan in December 2025.