Rebuilding Europe’s Housing Market

On a morning in Ghent, a young couple living in a tiny apartment scrolls through property listings. Both have stable jobs. They did what they were told by society: study hard, find a decent job and save money. And yet, they are leaving their apartment soon. Not because they found a nicer place to live, but because they are forced to leave. Rent has increased. Again. Buying is not an option. That would cost them all their savings. Not only is this couple forced to leave their apartment, but they are also forced to leave the city they loved for so long. The place where they pictured their future.   

Across the EU, housing is no longer “just expensive”. It has become unaffordable for millions of young Europeans. Since 2010, house prices have risen by over 60% and rents by 30%. In many cities, couples spend almost half of their income simply to keep a roof over their heads. For first-time buyers, this barrier has become impossible to bridge.  

On 10 March, the European Parliament adopted its final - and first-ever - report on the housing crisis in the EU. Borja Giménez Larraz, Member of the European Parliament, who negotiated and wrote the final report, sets out a roadmap to restore access to decent, sustainable and affordable housing across Europe. For the EPP Group, the analysis is clear: we don’t just have a housing crisis, we have a housing supply crisis.  

After the financial crisis, the entire construction sector collapsed: investment dried up and skilled labour left the industry. At the same time, regulatory barriers skyrocketed. Urban planning rules grew more complex, alongside increasingly demanding environmental and energy requirements. All of this slowed down permitting procedures. Meanwhile, building land remains unused, and permits get lost in a maze of regulatory hurdles. If we are truly serious about affordable housing, we must steer towards generating supply.  

It is high time for a new housing deal for European citizens. Thanks to the EPP Group, the European Parliament finally calls on the European Commission to come forward with a Housing Simplification Package. By cutting back overlapping rules, we want to ensure that European legislation no longer chokes housing construction. Our young couple in Ghent wants a government that builds faster and builds more. Yes, climate and energy standards matter. Yes, quality matters. For sure, sustainability matters. But above all, rules must facilitate affordable housing and help people move forward.  

Today, getting a building permit can take years. This is simply not acceptable. We want a building permit approval within sixty days. If the competent administration fails to provide an answer in time, the project can move forward. We should also make better use of the land we already have. Unused industrial sites can be quickly redeveloped into new neighbourhoods. This could increase supply near cities.  

Affordability is not an abstract idea: it is about whether young couples can start a family. Whether nurses, teachers or police officers can live near the people they serve. That is why we call for simpler procedures and lower housing costs. Buying or renting your first home should not feel like climbing a mountain of paperwork.  

Predictable rules are equally important. Legal certainty for both owners and tenants encourages an increase in supply. There is no one-fits-all solution. Housing markets differ greatly between Member States and regions. Subsidiarity must remain the guiding principle. Europe should help remove obstacles and support investments. Local, regional and national governments are still best placed to work out the details.  

That is why the EPP Group sets clear priorities: simpler rules, faster permits, more land made available and targeted support for those who need it most - all with respect for national competences. We have laid the first stone. Now it is time to build the structure.