Programme

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This event has been recognised as an Associated Presidency Event as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.

Venue: Eurofound, Wyattville Road, Loughlinstown, Dublin D18KP65 (attendance upon prior registration)

Annotated programme: under the 'Documents' page

Short programme in PDF

Draft programme

09:30 Registration and Welcome coffee 

10:00 – 10:40 Opening Session – Europe's Housing Crisis: A Call for Coordinated Action

  • Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director, Eurofound 
  • Séamus Boland, EESC President
  • Eamon Ryan, Chair, EU Housing Advisory Board 
  • Dan Jørgensen, EU Commissioner for Housing and Energy (video-message) 

10:40 – 11:30  PANEL I – Housing for All: Responding to Diverse Needs by Combining Affordability, Inclusion and Fundamental Rights

Moderator:  Thomas Kattnig, EESC Rapporteur 

  • Michelle Norris, Professor, University College Dublin
  • Donal McManus, CEO, Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) 
  • Ioana Vlad, Housing Policy Officer, FEANTSA 
  • Margit Perko, Policy officer Social Economy & Housing, European Commission, DG Employment

11:35 –  12:25 PANEL II – Boosting Sustainable Housing Supply in the EU

Moderator: John Comer, EESC rapporteur

  • Louise Lennon, Policy Officer, Irish Rural Link
  • Rudolf Kolbe, EESC Rapporteur 
  • Paul Tierney, CEO, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC Ireland)
  • Tina Weber, Senior Research Manager, Eurofound 

12:30 – 12:40 Closing of Morning Session

  • James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage of Ireland

12:40 – 12:45 Introduction of the Habitat for Humanity exhibition by Rudolf Kolbe, EESC member and Jenny Williams, Chief Executive, Habitat for Humanity Ireland 

12:45 – 14:00 Networking lunch buffet

14:00 – 15:00 Afternoon - thematic practice-oriented breakout sessions (participation upon registration) 

  • Workshop A: Social Housing Fostering Resilience and Protection

    Rapporteur: Marie Hyland (Eurofound) 

    Steering: Michaela Kauer (Brussels Office of the City of Vienna), Baiba Miltoviča (EESC Member), Margit Perko (EC, DG EMPL)

  • Workshop B: Housing Unaffordability  

    Rapporteur:  Massimiliano Mascherini (Eurofound)

    Steering: Andres Jaadla (CoR Member), Barbara Steenbergen (International Union of Tenants), Mateusz Szymaṅski (EESC Member)

  • Workshop C: Sustainable Financing Approaches 

    Rapporteur: Michelle Norris (University College Dublin) 

    Steering: Emmanuelle Causse (International Union of Property Owners), Joan Roget Alemany (EESC Member)

15.00 – 15.15 Break

15:15 – 15:45 Plenary – presentation of the conclusions of the workshops

Moderator: Mateusz Szymanski, President of the EESC Permanent Group Services of General Interest

15:45 – 16:00 Closing Remarks

  • Mateusz Szymaṅski, President of the EESC Permanent Group on Services of General Interest 
  • Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director, Eurofound