Can the EU’s new long-term budget reshape access to housing? With nearly €2 trillion on the table, the Commission is backing more affordable, sustainable, and energy-efficient homes. A proposal that could mark a turning point in European social and climate policy.
The European Commission has unveiled its proposal for the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, allocating nearly €2 trillion to strengthen investment in social and affordable housing across the European Union. This more flexible, policy-driven budgetary strategy will enable Member States to address pressing priorities through solutions tailored to local contexts. National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPs), backed by €865 billion, are set to become the cornerstone of the MFF, integrating key objectives such as poverty reduction, investment in social infrastructure, and access to decent, energy-efficient housing.
The proposal sets a target of 14% of total expenditure for social policies, with dedicated monitoring mechanisms. Energy efficiency in the housing stock is recognised as a cross-cutting priority, aligned with the EU’s climate commitments and the European Green Deal.
Public and private investment will also be mobilised through instruments such as the European Competitiveness Fund and the Erasmus+ programme, which acknowledges the housing challenges faced by young people and students. According to Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, the proposal reaffirms the EU’s commitment to social equity and the energy transition, responding to the concrete needs of millions of European citizens.
