The Construction2050 Alliance calls for action on delivering housing and new built solutions
An open letter asks to assess the impact of EU policies on construction and housing costs, bank lending practices, availability of land, the admin barriers and more
Brussels, Belgium, 9 April 2024 | Published in Energy, Future of the EU & Housing
With the European construction industry boasting more than 5 million companies, 25 million employees, and contributing 10,3% to the EU’s GDP, the key-role of the construction sector has never been more important in delivering the green, competitive, and inclusive transition of the built environment, but suffers from a severe decline in demand. On April 9, the Construction 2050 Alliance of which Housing Europe is a partner held the event Call for action: Delivering housing solutions organised together with the Urban Intergroup at the European Parliament to address the critical housing crisis gripping Europe.
On 13 December (2023), the Construction 2050 Alliance had released its Call and commitment for the new European Union political term (available here), reminding how fundamental the construction industry is to the people-economy-climate triangle, and therefore to the competitiveness of the EU.
However, in the current socio-economic climate marked by higher mortgage rates, inflation, and supply chain disruptions, new housing construction has significantly slowed down and required a specific focus. Reason why the Alliance has developed an Open letter to alert on the critical situation in housing and new built in Europe.
Indeed, Member States are increasingly facing severe housing shortages, with housebuilding declining in most EU countries. In this context, the construction ecosystem is committed to promoting solutions to fostering access to quality, affordable and sustainable homes for all European citizens. However, challenges persist in ensuring the provision of homes while adhering to environmental objectives.
MEP Jan Olbrycht (EPP, Poland), chair of the Urban Intergroup, looked at his time leading the intergroup and highlighted the unavoidable interaction between EU policy on social exclusion, the EU Green Deal and national housing policies. The event was the perfect occasion for taking stock of these challenges and opportunities and raising awareness and promoting further collaborative efforts between EU institutions and Member States to establish favorable conditions for accelerating the delivery of new housing.
During the meeting, Housing Europe's Secretary-General, Sorcha Edwards stressed that while the public, cooperative, and social housing sector sees a recognition for a change in paradigm among cities and some Member States, we need to see a reflection of this with an integrated coherent approach at EU level in the next mandate. This is why Housing Europe calls for a group led by a Vice-President of the European Commission on the topic of housing and more coherence on legislation that impacts construction, an ambition that should be consulted together with the Construction2050 Alliance.
The event was the perfect occasion for taking stock of these challenges and opportunities and raising awareness and promoting further collaborative efforts between EU institutions and Member States to establish favorable conditions for accelerating the delivery of new housing.
The Steering group of the Alliance includes: Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe, Domenico Campogrande, Director General of FIEC, Fernando Sigchos Jiménez, Secretary General of EBC, Emmanuelle Causse, Secretary General of UIPI, and Christophe Sykes, Director General of Construction Products Europe and the full room audience on key areas of focus to properly address the above-mentioned challenges including assessing the impact of EU policies on construction costs, housing affordability, land access, lending practices and regulatory frameworks.