The EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions welcomes the presentation of the European Affordable Housing Plan and the debate in the European Parliament. Housing is not only a social challenge; it is about dignity, cohesion and Europe’s competitiveness. For millions of Europeans, access to a secure and affordable home determines whether they can study, work, raise a family and build a future with confidence.
Cities and regions are already delivering solutions on the ground. In Badalona, new housing developments are finally moving forward after decades of stagnation, with a clear distinction between social housing and affordable homes for middle-income families. In Novo Mesto, EU-supported renovation projects in the city centre are creating affordable homes for young families while revitalising urban areas. In Gabrovo, long-term investment in energy-efficient renovation and passive-building standards is reducing energy costs and improving housing quality. In Katowice, vacant municipal apartments are being brought back into use through renovation-for-rent schemes, expanding affordable housing while regenerating ageing stock. Across rural communities in Romania and Italy, local authorities are restoring existing buildings and supporting young people to renovate and settle, helping to counter depopulation.
These examples show that affordable housing is delivered locally — a reality clearly recognised both in the European Parliament’s report by the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis and in the recommendations of the European Commission’s Housing Advisory Board. The EU’s role must be to enable, finance and scale up what works. The EPP-CoR therefore calls for a place-based European Affordable Housing Plan that empowers local and regional authorities, prioritises renovation and energy efficiency, mobilises public and private investment, and ensures legal and regulatory certainty.
With the launch of the EPP Network on Housing and the commitments set out in the Badalona Declaration, the EPP-CoR stands ready to work with the European Commission and the European Parliament to turn the European Affordable Housing Plan into concrete results for people and communities across Europe.