Brussels, February 20, 2024 – The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), recognized as the EU’s nexus of organized civil society, has issued a dire warning about Europe’s growing housing crisis, which is particularly affecting groups vulnerable and young people. At a high-level conference in Brussels, the EESC underlined the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the need for a coordinated EU-wide response to ensure access to decent housing for all and affordable.
The housing crisis, marked by a growing inability of Europeans to find affordable and adequate housing, leads to a multitude of adverse consequences, including housing insecurity, health problems and increased environmental damage. The EESC conference highlighted the multifaceted impact of the crisis, emphasizing that housing is not only a major expense for many households, but also a key determinant of social and territorial cohesion within the EU.
Recent studies, including that of Eurofound, reveal that the crisis disproportionately affects young people, delaying their transition to independent living and exacerbating intergenerational inequalities. Countries like Spain, Croatia, Italy and others have seen a significant increase in the number of young adults living with their parents, a sign of a deepening crisis.
The EESC has long called for a solution to housing problems across the EU. In 2020, he called for a European action plan on housing, proposing measures to increase the supply of social and affordable housing and tackle homelessness. Although housing policy is a national responsibility, the EESC’s recommendations aim to promote a collective European approach to the crisis.
Among the proposed measures are the organization of an annual EU summit on affordable housing, the establishment of a universal right to housing through specific regulation and the creation of a European housing fund. investment in affordable housing. These proposals aim to mobilize stakeholders at all levels, from local to European level, to effectively combat the housing shortage.
The conference featured interventions from high-level speakers, including EESC President Oliver Röpke, who highlighted the role of civil society organizations in promoting affordable housing policies. European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit acknowledged the complexity of ensuring access to affordable housing, but stressed the need for a strong social Europe. MEP Estrella Durá Ferrandis called for an integrated European strategy for social, public and affordable housing, while Christophe Collignon, Walloon Minister of Housing and Local Authorities, highlighted housing as a fundamental right essential to preventing homelessness. shelter and promote social cohesion.
The EESC plans to compile its recommendations and present them at the next ministerial conference on housing in Liège, aiming to put the housing crisis on the agenda of the new European Parliament and the new Commission for 2024-2029. This initiative aims not only to address immediate challenges, but also to lay the foundations for long-term solutions to ensure that access to quality and affordable housing becomes a reality for all Europeans.
Originally published in The European Times.
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