Ideas should be included in the new European Union (EU) plan for affordable housing
The European Commission wants, in the new European Union (EU) plan for affordable housing, to invest in the renovation of buildings, particularly vacant ones, and put an end to the ‘boom’ in local accommodation and real estate speculation to solve the housing crisis.
To this end, this, the first plan of its kind at community level, includes a strategy for housing construction (focusing on vacant houses and the renovation and conversion of buildings), the simplification of construction rules (such as licenses) or the review of state aid rules (making it easier for Member States to invest in affordable and social housing).
The plan also includes the reinforcement of European funds (from the long-term EU budget, cohesion, the InvestEU program and the European Investment Bank), the fight against real estate speculation (with greater transparency in the sector) and a new law on local accommodation (with a legal framework for local authorities to act).
Speaking to the Lusa agency and other European media on the day he presents the initiative, the European Commissioner for Housing, Dan Jørgensen, emphasizes that “Europe must collectively take responsibility for the housing crisis that affects millions of citizens and act accordingly”, namely by adopting these “concrete actions to make housing more accessible, stimulating investments, regulating short-term rentals, reducing bureaucracy and supporting those most affected”.
