EBC met yesterday with MEP Borja Giménez Larraz (EPP, Spain) to discuss the forthcoming report from the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU (HOUS), anticipated for release in September 2025. The meeting allowed to bring the point of view of construction SMEs and craft trades on the challenge to make housing both more affordable and sustainable.
Since January 2025, the HOUS Committee has held several hearings on key aspects of the housing crisis. In April, the focus was on the role of EU competition policy, with a hearing dedicated to how State Aid rules can better support affordable housing. May featured two sessions: one, held jointly with the FISC Subcommittee, explored the impact of tax policies on housing affordability, while another addressed the construction sector’s role in delivering sustainable and innovative housing solutions. In early June, the Committee examined strategies to accelerate the energy transition in housing while ensuring affordability, followed by discussions on how to mobilise public and private investment to expand social and affordable housing. Finally, in late June, a joint hearing with the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) addressed housing rights, property rights, and the protection of tenants, with a particular focus on evictions and homelessness. These hearings have provided an overview of the multifaceted housing challenges across the EU.
During the exchange, EBC highlighted a series of proposals, including a call for placing the existing building stock at the heart of long-term housing finance strategies, supporting a human-centric and market-driven approach to industrialisation in construction, and addressing structural workforce and skills shortages in the sector to ensure delivery capacity. Additionally, the need to ensure a predictable and simplified regulatory environment that fosters investment and the importance of enhancing the capacity of local municipalities to access and effectively use EU funds were also mentioned.
At the same time, in parallel to its broader consultation efforts, the European Commission also announced yesterday the members of the Housing Advisory Board to support the work of its Housing Task Force and to provide independent, concrete policy recommendations for the upcoming European Affordable Housing Plan. Selected from over 200 applicants across Europe, the 15 appointed members will be chaired by Eamon Ryan, former Irish Minister for the Environment, with Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon and former European Commissioner, serving as Vice Chair. The Advisory Board held its first meeting on 30 June and is expected to reconvene in September to continue guiding the Commission’s work toward a comprehensive and realistic housing plan by early 2026.
EBC expressed its commitment to collaborating with policymakers to address the housing crisis, ensuring that the construction sector contributes to sustainable and affordable housing solutions.
