On Monday 24 March, a number of MEPs expressed their impatience regarding the urgent need to tackle the housing crisis at EU level, while the European Commission plans first to consult stakeholders before announcing concrete initiatives.
Work needs to be completed “much more quickly” in the face of problems that are already well known, such as the reform of European rules governing state aid, the voracity of “vulture funds” and competition from short-term rental accommodation for tourism purposes, said Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, German) at a public hearing of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis (HOUS).
Recalling his experience as an MEP, the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, advocated a dialogue that would give the Special Committee time to formulate its own recommendations. Otherwise, on which subjects would you like us to present concrete actions now? - he asked.
Referring to a recent speech in the same parliamentary committee (see EUROPE 13591/8), Mr Jørgensen felt it was necessary to analyse the administrative burden surrounding the issuing of building permits, which can slow down the construction process. “This is a problem that has been raised in my contacts with Member States and local authorities”, he said. Dirk Gotink (EPP, Dutch) agreed with him on this point, saying that it was now “much more” urgent to build housing than to comply with environmental standards.
Mr Jørgensen also mentioned the importance of improving access to materials and tackling obstacles to the cross-border provision of services in the construction sector. Professionals need to be better trained, he added.
Keen to demonstrate that the Commission’s work is progressing, the Commissioner announced the launch, on the same day, of a dialogue on affordable housing. A public consultation on State aid reform and a call for expressions of interest to set up a European committee of housing experts will also be launched shortly.
Spain’s Borja Giménez Larraz (EPP), who has been appointed rapporteur for the HOUS Committee, has set himself the goal of leading “a constructive debate” with all the European Parliament groups so as to build “a broad majority” capable of sending a strong message to the European Commission on the measures to be taken to tackle the housing crisis in the EU. He spoke of the importance of “tourism”, which represents an economic opportunity and a housing challenge for his country.
Speaking on behalf of the European Economic and Social Committee, Oliver Röpke felt it was necessary to develop “a toolbox” of measures from which public authorities could draw, including rent caps, tax incentives for renovating vacant homes and building more social housing (see EUROPE 13530/23).
EIB representative Ioannis Tsakiris spoke about the work underway to create a pan-European investment platform for the construction of affordable and sustainable housing (see EUROPE 13594/6). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)