The European Commission has presented the first 'European Affordable Housing Plan', a strategic response to the growing housing crisis affecting households across the European Union. According to the Commission, the sharp increase in prices and rents over the past decade, together with insufficient supply and declining investment in housing, is fuelling a situation in which many people, including middle classes and essential workers, face difficulties in accessing decent housing. The plan recognises that housing is a basic right and a pillar of social cohesion and economic mobility, and seeks to integrate affordability, sustainability, and quality objectives into European policies.

The strategy is structured around four pillars: boosting supply through modernisation of the construction sector and reducing administrative barriers; mobilising public and private investment; providing immediate support while promoting structural reforms, and protecting the groups most affected by the crisis. Measures include initiatives to expedite building permit processes, enhance energy efficiency, reassess short-term rentals that create pressure, and utilize tools such as financing partnerships and the pan-European housing investment platform.

The Plan aims to coordinate actions among European institutions, Member States, and local actors to increase the number of affordable homes, reduce living costs, and address inequality in access to adequate housing.