President's State of the Union speech addresses the housing crisis

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the European Union speech today in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In her speech, she addressed the ongoing housing crisis in Europe. Find the transcript of what she said and a clip of this part of the speech here.

Honourable Members,

A home is not just four walls and a roof.

It is safety, warmth, a place for family and friends.

It is belonging.

But for too many Europeans today, home has become a source of anxiety.

It can mean debt or uncertainty.

The numbers tell a painful truth.

House prices are up by more than 20% since 2015.

 

Building permits down by over 20% in five years.

This is more than a housing crisis.

It is a social crisis.

It tears at Europe's social fabric.

It weakens our cohesion.

And it also threatens our competitiveness.

Nurses, teachers, and firemen cannot afford to live where they serve.

Students drop out because they cannot pay the rent.

Young people delay starting families.

That is why still this year – after receiving your input, we will present the first ever European Affordable Housing Plan.

To make housing more affordable, more sustainable, and of better quality.

It will be a European effort, anchored in local realities.

We need a radical overhaul of the way we tackle this issue.

We need to revise our State aid rules to enable housing support measures.

We need to make it much easier to build new houses and student residences.

And we will also propose a legal initiative on short-term rentals to tackle the remaining issues.

We need all of society, all lawmakers and all stakeholders to come together.

In this spirit, we will convene the first EU Housing Summit to ensure it is at the top of our agenda.

 

Honourable Members,

Housing is about dignity.

It is about fairness.

And it is about Europe's future.

Eight years ago, the European Pillar of Social Rights made housing a social right in Europe.

It's time to turn this promise into reality.

 

- Ursula von der Leyen, 10 September 2025, Strasbourg

Find the full transcription of the 2025 State of the Union Address by the President here

See the full speech through the European Parliament's Multimedia Centre