Nicosia, Cyprus. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said he will work to address the European Union’s “rapidly worsening housing problem” during Cyprus’ six-month term holding the Council of the EU’s rotating presidency.
Housing pressures across member states
Ioannou said affordable housing affects all 27 EU member states and has become a central issue in European public debate. He said that while housing policy remains a national competence, difficulties for many European citizens in securing affordable and sustainable housing make a coordinated European response necessary.
EU-level focus and planned meeting in May
He cited the appointment of a European housing commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2024 as evidence that the issue is being recognised at the highest political level in the EU. Ioannou said Cyprus will host an informal ministerial meeting on housing in May.
Commission’s affordable housing plan
Ioannou pointed to the European Commission’s affordable housing plan published by last month, which is based on four pillars: boosting housing supply, mobilising investment, enabling immediate support while driving reforms, and protecting the most affected.
Steps to boost supply and reduce administrative burden
On boosting supply, the commission said it will strengthen productivity and innovation in construction by promoting advanced materials and methods, including offsite and modular construction, and digitalisation to increase resource efficiency and reduce building costs. The commission also said it will cut red tape to accelerate housing supply, including by putting forward a “housing simplification package” aimed at reducing administrative burden, accelerating permitting and renovation, and improving cost efficiency.
What measures do you think should be prioritised to improve access to affordable and sustainable housing in the EU?