European Economic
and Social Committee
Beyond Affordable Housing: Structural Solutions to Europe's Housing Crisis
Europe’s housing crisis is one of the EU’s most urgent social and economic challenges. By bringing together actors from across the housing and homelessness ecosystem together with EU institutions, Member States, organised civil society, local and regional authorities the conference aimed to identify effective measures and practical solutions to increase the supply of affordable and sustainable housing, improve access to housing, and reinforce a coherent European response that fully respects Member States’ competences.
As a contribution to the Housing Alliance launched on 19 June 2026, the event provided a platform to exchange experience, promote good practice and advance concrete recommendations to improve access to housing for all in line with recent and forthcoming EU initiatives. It also built on the EESC’s ongoing work on housing with successive EU Council Presidencies and on Eurofound’s research and analysis in this field.
Moreover, participants in the conference also had the opportunity to visit the Habitat for Humanity’s “Let’s Open the Door” exhibition which was located at Eurofound for this event. Habitat for Humanity Ireland's immersive 'Let's Open the Door' exhibition helps people understand what ‘home’ means. It highlights that one in three people around the world lack access to safe, affordable housing. Local artists, new global research and homeowner stories bring to life that housing matters. It all starts with an open door.
This event had been recognised as an Associated Presidency Event as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026.