Houses for people, not for profit
Today, the European Commission presented its first-ever EU-wide Affordable Housing Plan. The Greens/EFA Group welcome this first step in acknowledging and acting on the housing crisis in the EU but call for more ambitious steps.
Greens/EFA MEP Maria Ohisalo, Greens/EFA shadow on the upcoming Housing Committee Report, comments:
“Housing is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of human dignity, not a commodity. This plan shows that the Commission acknowledges the fact that a problem that afflicts all EU countries needs a European solution.
“We welcome the fact that the Plan mentions housing-specific investment, but the way in which this is done matters: these instruments must be accompanied by clear conditionalities. The Plan also lacks a more decisive approach to real estate speculation, which plays a fundamental role in the housing crisis. Without fair taxation, housing will continue to be a financial asset and not a right. While we also appreciate that the Commission has acknowledged the severity of the problem of homelessness in its housing plan, we are disappointed how little concrete measures are offered in the plan. Housing first principle must be implemented across the EU.
“Through the Housing Committee and the European Parliament, we will work to ensure that this Plan translates into real action, and we will continue in the fight against speculation and in the defence of the right to affordable housing for everyone. Our vision is clear: this is about more than walls and roofs – it is about dignity, fairness, and the possibility of building a life.”
Greens/EFA MEP Gordan Bosanac, Greens/EFA coordinator of the Housing Committee, comments:
"This is a good first step in tackling one of the most important crises the EU is currently facing, but without binding legal instruments at EU level to strengthen the right to housing, it largely remains a framework of intentions and future timelines. The Affordable Housing Plan finally acknowledges that the uncontrolled expansion of tourist rentals worsens housing shortages in stressed areas. It is crucial that the initiatives put forward to deal with short-term rentals leave room for cities to act.
“In order to make sure every European has a place to call home, European tools must include clear safeguards in favour of public, social and non-profit housing, and not contribute to further accumulation and making the rich richer. Bold measures are needed to address the root causes of the housing crisis: speculation, financialization, and short-term rentals. We would also like to see a stronger role of the cities and the regions in solving the crises. We call on the Commission to include these measures in its announced Affordable Housing Act.”
