Housing Crisis Central to EU Agenda: First Housing Commissioner Appointed

The rising cost of housing has become an urgent concern across Europe, with citizens facing pressures of high rents and home prices. This growing burden has driven European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to prioritise housing as a central issue for the upcoming European Commission (2024-2029) as outlined in her Political Guidelines.

On September 17, Dan Jørgensen, a former climate and energy minister in Denmark, was appointed as the EU’s first-ever Commissioner-Designate for Energy and Housing. In this role, he will focus on all aspects of the housing challenge, from energy efficiency to investment and construction, ensuring that sustainable and affordable homes are central to Europe’s future. His role will have to be confirmed by the European Parliament in the October plenary.

Housing has traditionally been outside the EU’s competencies, nonetheless, Von der Leyen has proposed several key measures to enable member states to better tackle the crisis. Among them is the revision of State Aid Rules to enable housing support measures, especially for affordable energy-efficient and social housing. The Social Climate Fund, created alongside the ETS system to fund so that the most affected vulnerable groups, will play a central role in renovations and access to affordable and energy-efficient housing.

One of the most significant elements of this plan is the development of a European Affordable Housing Plan, which will address the root causes of the housing shortage, offer construction solutions, and increase investment in the sector. The platform will attract both public and private investment in affordable and sustainable housing projects, utilizing a blend of funding sources to accelerate home construction and alleviate the shortage, with the support of the European Investment Bank.

For RICS, the delivery of safe, affordable, and sustainable homes for all European citizens remains a top priority. These policy shifts represent a new opportunity for the built environment, with expectations of increased partnerships and projects across Europe. RICS members continue to play a key role in shaping the future of the housing sector, focusing on essential aspects like building safety, energy efficiency, and the development of new housing.