Overview
- Meeting in Brussels, the European Council urged the European Commission to present "without delay" a comprehensive plan to advance affordable housing.
- Council briefings stressed that housing remains primarily a national responsibility and that causes of the crisis vary widely across member states.
- Official figures cited in the coverage show EU house prices up about 53% and rents up 27.8% since 2015, with tourist-heavy regions flagged as pressure points.
- Spain proposed a dedicated EU fund for protected housing and curbs on purchases not intended for residential use, while European mayors urged extraordinary funding for cities.
- The Commission points to existing tools — a Housing Commissioner, an EIB-linked €10 billion effort, and cohesion-policy flexibility — and is preparing a broader strategy that includes a 2026 initiative on short-term rentals.