Experts from the Member States could as early as this week finalise the EU Council’s conclusions on the future European plan for affordable housing, which the Commission will present in mid-December (see EUROPE 13736/28).
While the Danish Presidency of the EU Council submitted a new compromise text to the EU27 and a working group met on 30 October, the Presidency was due to launch a silence procedure for the text's adoption based on a final text on Tuesday 4 November or Wednesday 5 November. The next stage will be a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) in mid-November, with adoption scheduled for 1 December at the Employment and Social Affairs Council.
The latest Danish compromise proposal of 28 October remains close to the previous one, dated 23 October (see EUROPE 13738/8).
It includes the requests of Member States concerned about a revision of State aid rules, such as France, which wanted this potential revision to avoid affecting the social housing sector, classified as a service of general economic interest (SGEI).
References to the outermost regions have been added, as well as stronger references to the harmful effects of short-term rentals, mentioning, among other things, the imbalances linked to overtourism.
The latest drafts also introduced explicit references to national competence and respect for subsidiarity in the housing sector, in the wake of the European Summit on 23 October.
According to several sources, the latest text, presented on 30 October, has not yet received the green light, as several Member States maintain scrutiny reservations - such as Hungary, which is opposed in principle to any management of housing issues at EU level - or have real red lines.
France still needs convincing regarding the possible revision of State aid and its impact on the social housing sector, as well as whether the text respects subsidiarity.
Seven Member States have reportedly requested modifications or additions.
The Commission has stated on several occasions that the potential revision of State aid rules to promote social and affordable housing should provide Member States with greater flexibility, but will not constitute a legal obligation to do so.
In a final version, the Danish Presidency was able to insist that Member States be able to retain their definition of social housing as an SGEI.
Poland has also reportedly asked for more references to energy poverty and an allusion to the negative effects of the future ‘ETS2’ system.
In all cases, the Member States will urge the Commission to present “a European affordable and sustainable housing plan that is supportive of the efforts of Member States, with respect for the specificities and different situations in the Member States, and coherent with other wider EU policy objectives, in line with EU competences”, according to the latest text studied.
The institution will be called upon to use “EU initiatives and funding instruments, with a view to supporting and strengthening Member States’ efforts to provide, build and renovate affordable, accessible, safe and sustainable housing, whether social or otherwise, and the fight against homelessness”.
This will be done by assessing “in the scope of a possible revision of the State aid rules on services of general economic interest [...], the introduction of changes that would make it possible for Member States, when appropriate due to market failures, to support affordable and sustainable housing in a faster and simpler way”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)