On 13 March 2025, local and regional leaders urged the European Union to prioritize affordable housing and increase investments in social housing. During a meeting of the Commission for Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), they emphasized the need for stronger involvement of local authorities in the development of the European Affordable Housing Plan.
During the meeting, COTER members adopted a draft opinion on the role of regions and cities in the EU Affordable Housing Plan.
Download the draft opinion here
The opinion called for the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to include affordable housing as a key objective and to support leveraging additional financial mechanisms to address the housing crisis. The draft opinion also urged the EU to reform the 2012 state-aid regulation to unlock greater public investment in affordable housing.
Barcelona’s Mayor, Jaume Collboni Cuadrado, highlighted the urgency of the housing crisis, stating that public investment in social and affordable housing is as important as any major policy.
The meeting also stressed that Cohesion Policy reforms should be closely linked to local and regional needs, ensuring investments are tailored to address the specific challenges faced by cities and rural areas alike. Local leaders underscored the critical role metropolitan regions play in driving economic growth and sustainable development, advocating for stronger collaboration between cities to tackle shared challenges like housing, transportation, and climate change.
The draft opinions adopted during the meeting will be presented at the CoR plenary session in May 2025, where further discussions on the EU’s long-term budget and the European Affordable Housing Plan are expected.
