Brussels: Housing is a social right, declared Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou after an informal videoconference involving Housing Ministers from the 27 EU Member States, which was organized under the presidency of Cyprus. The meeting highlighted the severe housing crisis impacting millions of Europeans.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Ioannou, alongside European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan J¸rgensen, detailed the framework of their discussions, which followed the European Commission's presentation of the European Affordable Housing Plan. Ioannou emphasized the necessity for a robust European strategy that complements local and national solutions, respecting the principle of subsidiarity. He highlighted the challenges such as rising prices, limited financing access, and insufficient supply affecting households across Europe.
Ioannou asserted that the housing portfolio could support coordinated actions linked to climate change, energy, and construction. He emphasized that the European Affordable Housing Plan, introduced last December, is crucial for establishing a comprehensive European framework with measures to increase supply, reduce bureaucracy, and support affected areas.
EU Commissioner J¸rgensen described the housing crisis as a democratic threat, stressing the urgent need for action as many struggle to secure housing. He noted that the solution requires cooperation at national and local levels, with a focus on increasing housing through new construction and renovation.
J¸rgensen also addressed the issue of short-term rentals impacting housing affordability. He announced that a legislative proposal would be presented by the year's end to tackle this problem. This proposal will include criteria for identifying 'pressure areas' where short-term rentals have unsustainable impacts, providing cities with tools to address the issue.
The discussion marks the beginning of a broader dialogue, with the European Affordable Housing Plan set to be a key topic at the upcoming EPSCO Council meeting on March 9.