At its September plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a debate with the Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, and called on the European Commission to take urgent action to address the ongoing housing crisis.

The EESC urged the Commission to draw up a European action plan on affordable housing. It has contributed a specific opinion on the subject and stands ready to organise the first ever EU housing summit together with the Commission, the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions.

The outgoing EESC Vice-President for Communication, Laurenţiu Plosceanu, emphasised the Committee’s commitment to decent, affordable, sustainable housing for all, underscoring the contribution made by civil society to the upcoming European Affordable Housing Plan. 'Our message is clear: the EU needs an action plan to make the right to housing a reality and to anchor it in EU law,' he said.

Commissioner Jørgensen acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting that many Europeans struggle to find affordable, dignified housing. He stressed that addressing the crisis is an opportunity to make a lasting difference: 'If we want a Europe that is fairer, more competitive and truly independent, we need housing that is decent, sustainable and affordable for every citizen.'

The EESC’s newly adopted opinion, drafted by John Comer and Thomas Kattnig, calls for the right to decent, sustainable, affordable housing to be formally enshrined in EU primary law.

‘Sustainability goes hand in hand with affordability. People cannot afford houses. A lot of Europeans living in cities are paying up to 40% of their salary for housing,’ said Mr Comer.

'The housing crisis goes right to the centre of society and can do a lot of damage to democracy,' said Mr Kattnig.

The EESC calls for a coordinated EU approach that respects subsidiarity, as housing policy remains primarily a Member State competence. It also calls for reforms to state aid rules to broaden access to social housing, noting that current definitions exclude middle-income households and key workers.

The EESC recommends coordinated action to regulate short-term rentals, including transparent data exchange, targeted local measures and strict oversight to prevent speculative investment and tax evasion. Civil society voices in the debate stressed the importance of sound fiscal policies, tailored solutions for different housing systems and innovative EU financing to support retrofitting and social housing. (mp)