Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union helped strengthen momentum for a more coordinated European housing policy and advance legislation on civil protection, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Thursday. In a statement marking the end of Cyprus’ six-month presidency, he said the country contributed to shaping EU policy in both areas through political dialogue and legislative work.
Housing policy initiatives
Ioannou said Cyprus made housing one of the presidency’s central priorities, describing access to affordable housing as one of the European Union’s most pressing social, economic and demographic challenges.
He said the presidency worked to ensure that access to affordable, decent and sustainable housing became a key element of the European social and political agenda.
Among the initiatives he cited were the first informal videoconference of EU housing ministers in February, ministerial discussions during the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council in March, and an informal ministerial meeting hosted in Nicosia in May.
At the Nicosia meeting, ministers examined ways to increase the supply of affordable housing through innovation, simplified procedures and greater investment.
Council conclusions
Ioannou described the adoption of the Council conclusions titled Housing: Demographic Change and Policy Design as the presidency’s most significant achievement in the housing sector.
He said the conclusions marked the first collective recognition by EU member states of the need for a coordinated European approach to housing policy while respecting national competences.
According to Ioannou, the conclusions acknowledge links between housing, demographic change, labour market needs, social inclusion and Europe’s competitiveness.
He added that they highlight the need to support young people, families, students, older people and middle-income households by increasing housing supply, encouraging investment and making better use of existing housing stock.
Ioannou said particular emphasis was placed on improving housing security for students and middle-income households, reflecting recognition that the housing crisis affects a broader section of society.
Civil protection progress
Beyond housing, Ioannou said Cyprus also made significant progress in civil protection by advancing negotiations on the new regulation governing the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and strengthening the bloc’s preparedness and emergency response framework.
