EU leaders call on Commission to present ambitious housing plan

On the first day of its two-day summit, the European Council discussed the various dimensions of the housing challenges faced by many citizens in the European Union, calling on the Commission to “swiftly present an ambitious and comprehensive plan for affordable housing, the aim of which should be to support and complement Member States’ efforts, including in the context of the simplification agenda, having due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and national competences”.  

EU leaders’ discussions add momentum to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address on 10 September, where she described the housing crisis as a social crisis which tears at Europe's social fabric, weakens our cohesion and threatens our competitiveness. The President has already announced that the Commission will present the first ever European Affordable Housing Plan before the end of the year to make housing more affordable, more sustainable, and of better quality. 

In parallel, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council plans to adopt conclusions on housing early December, and the European Parliament's Special Committee on the Housing Crisis (HOUS) is finalising a report on the housing situation in the EU.