The European Commission will not bring forward a plan on affordable housing until at least 2026 despite promises from Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Commission has published its work plan for the year ahead, but affordable housing is no longer on the list.
Last year, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said that Europe was experiencing “a housing crisis”.
“Prices and rents are soaring”, she told the European Parliament last summer.
“People are struggling to find affordable homes. This is why, for the first time, I will appoint a Commissioner with direct responsibility for housing. We will develop a European Affordable Housing Plan, to look at all the drivers of the crisis and to help unlock the private and public investment needed.”
At the start of her second term, she did appoint a Housing Commissioner, the former Danish Climate Minister, Dan Jørgensen.
It was understood that the European Affordable Housing Plan would be published within the first 100 days of his new job.
But today veteran European Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, who’s job includes Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, was sent to the European Parliament to tell MEPs that there would be no housing initiative this year.
“We know how important this is especially for young Europeans”, said Maroš Šefčovič in a press conference this lunchtime.
“Once we put something on the table, we want it to be meaningful”
What’s needed “is really thorough preparation, very solid consultation with the stakeholders and we want to put something solid on the table. And it’ll come most probably in 2026”, he promised.
Von der Leyen admitted last year that “typically, housing is not seen as a European issue. Some might say we should not get involved.”
Most rules around housing are the responsibility of governments and local councils. She is likely now regretting getting involved since it is now clear that the EU will not be able to come up with anything to help homeowners nor renters until next year at the earliest.