Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said Europe’s shortage of affordable housing is affecting social cohesion and competitiveness after meeting Greek Social Cohesion and Family Minister Domna Michaelides in Nicosia.
Talks on coordination and best practices
The two ministers discussed coordination and the exchange of best practices, with emphasis on their strategies to expand affordable housing.
Ioannou said affordable housing was among Cyprus’ priorities for its EU presidency. He said Cyprus had set specific goals, including strengthening dialogue and the exchange of experience and best practices.
Ioannou and Michaelides agreed to further their cooperation to ensure policies are more effective and coordinated.
Michaelides outlines Greece’s housing measures
Michaelides said housing was a Europe-wide problem and that all EU member states were making efforts to alleviate it. She said Cyprus has taken important steps in increasing the supply and demand for housing.
On Greece’s housing policy, Michaelides said the government was implementing a multifaceted plan with 44 different actions and a budget of €7 billion.
She said the strategy includes offering mortgages with a subsidised interest rate to more than 22,000 households, returning rent to one million households, and programmes to renovate and rent for 20,000 households.
What steps do you think EU member states should prioritise to expand affordable housing supply?
