On Monday 15 September, the Social Affairs Group of the Council of the European Union will discuss a new draft of Council of the EU conclusions on the European affordable housing plan, due in 2026.
On 10 September, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to do more to promote accessible housing and announced legislation on short-term rentals (see EUROPE 13706/9).
Welcoming the fact that a European Commissioner has been appointed to deal with this problem, namely the Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen, the draft conclusions are organised around four areas: - funding and “how to use existing European instruments and support national efforts”; - sustainable housing construction and renovation; - the location of new buildings; - social inclusion or “how to ensure socially inclusive and diverse cities and promote access to affordable housing”.
The draft recalls that, in the field of housing, “Union efforts should remain focused on the overall political objectives, complementing the efforts of the Member States. . The principle of subsidiarity and the prerogative of the Member States to design their set-up as appropriate to national circumstances, in accordance with their general obligations under the EU law, should be respected”.
There is no uniform or common definition of affordable or social housing in the Member States. “Subsidised rental housing offered below market rates and provided by different types of social and affordable housing providers is considered affordable. Affordability may, however, also be considered in a wider sense without reference to specific tenure forms, ownership, or regulation”, the draft also stipulates in advance.
With regard to financing, the text of 8 September highlights the possible introduction of changes to support affordable housing more quickly and more simply, subject to a possible revision of the rules on State aid for services of general economic interest. It emphasises collaboration with the European Investment Bank, national and regional development banks and other financial institutions, as well as private capital. Ways of supporting Member States’ efforts, for example through “financing for public, non-profit, and limited profit social and affordable housing providers, or the development of sustainable and resilient housing finance systems, can be considered based on, for example, cost-based rents, revolving funds, municipal land ownership and restrictions on the sale of social housing”.
The draft also calls for “sufficient and appropriate land to be made available for housing construction, including, where appropriate, reserving land for social and affordable housing providers”.
It stresses the need to integrate climate change, “limit urban sprawl and land taking, and preserve agricultural land, [...] biodiversity and ecosystem integrity”.
The draft also states the need to speed up “permitting for new housing, [...] and renovations”, “without compromising on environmental standards”.
With regard to inclusion, the text adds an article on the fundamental importance of housing security for people’s well-being. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)