The European Council is activated to address the housing crisis

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The Battle for Affordable Housing: A European Crisis

The fight for an affordable home should not merely be a struggle for urban dwellers; it must become a top priority for the European Union! Today, António Costa, the President of the European Council, championed this critical battle during a meeting with concerned mayors across Europe, including Barcelona’s own Jaume Collboni, who voiced their urgent demand for direct access to European funds to tackle the housing crisis.

The first phase of Costa’s plan—bringing this issue onto the agenda of the Brussels elite—has already been a success. For the first time ever, housing will prominently feature at the upcoming summit on October 23-24, attended by 27 heads of state and government. This is a massive win for cities like Barcelona that have been drowning in this escalating housing nightmare.

“We Need to Defend Ourselves from External Threats!” – António Costa

During his term, Costa understood well the unsustainable turmoil disrupting cities throughout Europe, irrespective of their political affiliations. As the former Mayor of Lisbon, he is well aware of the struggles facing many. His recent tour of European capitals emphasized that this is not just an issue for Spain and Italy; even those countries that heavily fund their national defense share the same housing crisis.

“Unfortunately, these concerns are not mutually exclusive. We must protect ourselves from external pressures while also addressing the dire needs of our citizens,” Costa stated after meeting with fellow leaders like Paris’s Anne Hidalgo and Rome’s Roberto Gualtieri. “Europe should not overshadow individual countries but must also extend a helping hand to safeguard its cities.”

His vision was echoed among members of the Alliance of Mayors for Housing, uniting cities from all over Europe—from Barcelona to Athens, to far reaches like Dublin and Copenhagen. The European Council is tackling this issue in tandem with the European Parliament, where a groundbreaking housing commission has just been established, with Danish Commissioner Dan Jorgensen leading the charge. Expect a comprehensive plan from Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission before the year’s end!

Steps Forward: Tackling the Housing Crisis Head-On

Insider reports suggest this plan will introduce stringent regulations on holiday rentals, using these funds to revive local communities. Costa is also advocating for streamlined processes to access housing and enhancing productivity in construction—essential moves to liberate our cities from this crisis.

Collboni expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the mayoral alliances but insisted that next year’s EU budget discussions must reflect this heightened priority for housing between 2028 and 2034. Combatting this crisis is not just a local issue; it now poses a formidable challenge for the entire EU.

“Cities at the forefront of the housing battle deserve direct access to European funding to accelerate the public housing agenda. This is a shared dilemma across all European cities, making it an EU challenge,” declared Collboni, emphasizing the urgent need for action.

In May, the Mayors for Housing group presented a roadmap demanding an astounding €300 billion annually from the EU to reverse the housing crisis. The next critical meeting at the European Council in October will serve as a turning point, with leaders poised to push this vital issue to the forefront of European policy.

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