The EESC continues to shine a spotlight on the housing crisis and is ready to offer fresh recommendations on what can now be defined as a genuine emergency specifically impacting young people and the most vulnerable in our societies.

‘Housing is first and foremost a social issue,’ said EESC President Séamus Boland, speaking at the EESC's February plenary session, ‘but it is no longer only that. It is an economic issue. A demographic issue. A competitiveness issue. This is why tackling the housing crisis is one of the key priorities of my term of office.’ Mr Boland also pointed out that in some Member States house prices and rents had gone up by more than 100% and that young Europeans were having to postpone becoming independent.

In his view, ‘the reality is unfortunately harsh: Europe is facing a housing emergency. An estimated 1.28 million people in Europe live on the street, in shelters or in temporary accommodation. In Brussels alone – the capital that should embody our collective European project – nearly 10 000 people are experiencing homelessness’.

During the plenary debate, Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, thanked the EESC for its work and for adopting the opinion entitled For a European Affordable Housing Plan – the contribution of civil society in September 2025, ‘which was instrumental in helping us to shape our final plan’. He added: ‘Now that we have our final plan, we must put it into action. We must harness all of the political tools and proposals so that we can support Member States, regions and local authorities to deliver more affordable, sustainable and quality housing’.

Mr Jørgensen listed the Commission’s next steps:

• delivering the Affordable Housing Act as soon as possible;
• continuing to work on a housing simplification package;
• focusing on financing – another cornerstone of the plan – and launching the pan-European Investment Platform later this year;
• stepping up work with Member States to assist young people and students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds; and
• providing an extra political push and enabling closer high-level cooperation by launching a housing alliance and organising a housing summit this year.

The EESC will put forward specific recommendations at its March plenary session when it adopts the opinion entitled Tackling housing scarcity through affordable, sustainable and family-oriented housing policies, which is currently being drafted by rapporteur Thomas Kattnig. (mp)