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REPORT (2024/2120(INI))

On the role of cohesion policy investment in resolving the current housing crisis

A-10-2025-0139

Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Marcos Ros Sempere

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This resolution addresses the EU housing crisis through cohesion policy, calling for doubled investment, new funding objectives, and support for affordable and social housing. It urges the Commission and Member States to use cohesion funds for housing, including renovation, energy efficiency, and measures for vulnerable groups, while respecting subsidiarity. It proposes a common EU framework for affordable housing eligibility, an EU investment platform, and inclusion of housing in post-2027 cohesion policy with binding accessibility standards.

Committee position. The Committee on Regional Development proposes a resolution calling for enhanced cohesion policy investment in affordable housing, including regulatory revisions and new funding priorities.

Key points

  1. Calls for at least doubling funds earmarked for affordable housing in the 2021-2027 mid-term review, with a balanced approach between new housing and energy efficiency.
  2. Urges respect for subsidiarity and partnership, avoiding centralisation, and strengthening administrative capacity for regional and local authorities.
  3. Requests revision of ERDF/Cohesion Fund, ESF+, and Just Transition Fund regulations to support housing investments, addressing urban, rural, and island challenges.
  4. Suggests new specific objectives on public, social, affordable, cooperative, and sustainable housing in ESF+ and ERDF-CF regulations, within policy objectives 2, 4, and 5.
  5. Calls for broadening CP support to include water efficiency, refurbishing, and innovative models like community land trusts and cooperatives, and for ESF+ to fund housing allowances.
  6. Asks for a common EU framework for social and affordable housing eligibility with transparent criteria, and an early warning system to anticipate housing exclusion risks.
  7. Proposes an additional co-funding rate up to 100% and exceptional pre-financing for targeted affordable housing priorities.
  8. Calls for making affordable housing a strategic priority in post-2027 cohesion funds, with binding accessibility standards and universal design in all EU-funded housing projects.
  9. Urges inclusion of ending homelessness and addressing energy poverty as explicit objectives in post-2027 CP, with robust funding.
  10. Recommends long-term conditions for CP beneficiaries to support right to stay in rent-controlled areas and exclude short-term speculative investors.
  11. Calls for incorporating the New European Bauhaus as an autonomous programme in the 2028-2034 MFF with sufficient resources.

Who is affected

  • Regional and local authorities: more direct access to CP funds, reduced administrative burdens, and involvement in programming.
  • Vulnerable groups (young people, single-parent families, elderly, persons with disabilities): targeted housing measures and support.
  • Construction sector: measures to address labour shortages and support training.
  • Social housing providers and not-for-profit entities: access to long-term loans and ownership retention of EU-funded housing.

Figures and deadlines

  • House prices in the EU rose on average by 48% in recent years.
  • Housing costs exceeded 40% of disposable income for 10.6% of urban and 7% of rural households in 2023.
  • EU support of EUR 7.5 billion allocated to housing under CP, about 2% of the EUR 379 billion total for 2021-2027.
  • Investment gap in affordable housing estimated at EUR 270 billion per year.
  • Social housing comprised over 14 million dwellings or 8% of total housing stock in 2021, down 3 percentage points since 2010.
  • Nearly 1.3 million people experiencing homelessness in 2024, including 400,000 children.
  • 49% of young people aged 18-34 lived with parents in 2021; only 17% of students had access to student accommodation.

Legal basis: Articles 3(3) TEU, 14, 174, 175, 177, 349 TFEU, and Protocol 28