The latest ReHousIn European Seminar explored the evolving role of the European Union in addressing the housing crisis while supporting the green transition. Delivered by Sebastian Sabato, Senior Researcher at the European Social Observatory, the seminar examined how recent EU housing initiatives seek to balance affordability, sustainability and social justice.
The seminar introduced a just transition perspective on housing, arguing that affordable and sustainable housing should be pursued together rather than as competing priorities. It reviewed key initiatives introduced under the European Green Deal before examining the policy direction of the current European Commission and its emerging Affordable Housing Plan.
A central theme was the shift in policy emphasis. While previous EU initiatives primarily focused on improving the sustainability of housing while ensuring affordability, more recent proposals place greater emphasis on expanding the availability of affordable housing, while maintaining environmental ambitions. These priorities can complement one another, but in practice, tensions can arise.
The discussion also addressed several challenges facing future EU housing policy, including securing adequate financial resources, balancing new construction with renovation of existing buildings, maintaining environmental standards, and tackling housing financialisation. These issues raise important questions about how Europe can respond to the housing crisis while advancing a fair and inclusive green transition.
Watch the seminar to learn more about the changing landscape of EU housing policy and the opportunities and challenges ahead.
The full lecture recording is available on our YouTube channel and contributes to ReHousIn's broader comparative research on housing inequalities across nine European countries.
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