On Thursday 6 November, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU launched the ‘silent’ adoption procedure to validate the conclusions of the Council of the EU on a European Affordable Housing Plan (see EUROPE 13745/14). This plan will be presented by the Commission in mid-December.
With a final text dated 5 November, the Presidency has taken into account the comments made by delegations in the working group on 30 October, such as those from Poland, which wanted a reference to the harmful effects of the ETS 2 system (a system of free trading of carbon emission quotas) extended to buildings and road transport, or those from Finland, which was concerned about the inclusion of public aid to social housing in the national debt and its negative effects.
The text also refers to the legislative simplification work in progress.
The latest version does not mention ETS 2 directly, but asks the Commission to address “the challenge of energy poverty, including by facilitating supporting affordable, clean heating and cooling solutions”.
This latest text also calls on the Commission to “consider the implications of the current framework of sector classification of social housing entities and their liabilities as a part of general government debt for providing affordable and social housing”.
Cohesion Policy. The references to subsidiarity are further strengthened and, in the section on the funding that the EU can make available, the 5 November version calls on the Commission to consider “using EU initiatives and funding instruments, including by using the opportunities under the mid-term review of Cohesion Policy” to support and strengthen Member States’ efforts to provide, build and renovate affordable, accessible, safe and sustainable housing, whether social or not, and to combat the fight homelessness.
The definition of social housing has also been clarified. “In some Member States subsidised rental housing that is offered below market rates and provided by different types of social and affordable housing providers, including public authorities, is considered to be affordable”, but there are no uniform or shared definitions of social and affordable housing between the Member States, the text points out. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)