European Parliament approves recommendations to tackle the EU housing crisis

The European Parliament’s plenary has approved the final report of the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis with 367 votes in favor, 166 against, and 84 abstentions. The document emphasizes that millions of Europeans suffer from precarious living conditions due to the housing crisis and calls for EU initiatives to address rising prices and shortages by supporting residential construction and renovation.

Housing as a fundamental right

The report recalls that housing is much more than mere shelter: it constitutes the foundation for families, households, individuals, and communities to grow and thrive. The lack of affordable housing increasingly affects not only low-income people but also middle-income earners across Europe. Young Europeans are particularly vulnerable: in 2023, the average age of leaving the parental home was 26.3 years.

The reduction in average household size requires redesigning the housing stock to ensure access for all groups. The lack of affordable housing creates financial pressure and a risk of social exclusion for vulnerable groups, especially the elderly and homeless people.

European legal framework

The report is based on the right to housing assistance recognized in Article 34.3 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which guarantees a dignified existence for those lacking sufficient resources. It also refers to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes housing as part of the right to an adequate standard of living.

The text also references the right to property (Article 17 of the Charter and Article 17 of the Universal Declaration) and Principle 19 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which calls for adequate accommodation and services for homeless people to promote their social inclusion.