Surging housing prices in the EU and investment in affordable housing

16.1.2023

Question for written answer  E-000123/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Sandra Pereira (The Left)

Following the recent investigation by journalists at Investigate Europe into the dramatic surge in housing prices in the EU, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, highlighted the need for ‘massive public and private investment in affordable housing to avoid people being pushed into poverty’. Several Member States are currently suffering the effects of raging inflation, the rising cost of living and the rise in interest rates imposed by the European Central Bank. The situation has caused serious difficulties for many families and put the right to housing at risk.

In light of the above:

• 1.What measures is the Commission considering adopting particularly in relation to bolstering existing instruments (such as structural and cohesion funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility) and/or creating new instruments? Is it considering solutions such as excluding investment in affordable public housing from being taken into account for deficit reduction purposes, with a view to boosting the provision of affordable public housing in Member States?
• 2.Does the Commission have any comparable information on housing stock in the various Member States and the respective investment needs?

Submitted: 16.1.2023