EU presented at WUF13 the first-ever European support plan for housing for all

The European Union (EU) seeks to provide immediate solutions while advancing long-term reforms as part of addressing the housing crisis.

As Report informs, this was stated by European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen in a video address at the panel discussion "Global Housing Crisis: What's the Plan?" held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

"In Europe, we are deeply convinced that the housing issue is a matter of human dignity and social justice. It is about realizing one of the fundamental rights of every person — the right to live in a safe and healthy space. Meanwhile, for far too many people in Europe and beyond, this right remains unrealized. What we are dealing with is not merely a housing problem — it is a full-fledged social crisis that is eroding social cohesion. It is an economic challenge that threatens competitiveness, hampers labor mobility, and slows progress in education. It is a crisis that strikes at the demographic situation, as a vast number of young people are deprived of the opportunity to leave their parents' home and start their own families," D. Jørgensen emphasized.

As he reported, there are over one million homeless people across the European Union, including more than 400,000 children.

"These statistics are absolutely unacceptable. In the European Union, the primary responsibility for housing policy lies with the member states, as well as with regional and municipal authorities. However, the European Union is also obligated to make its contribution — and is capable of making a real positive impact. We are proud to present the first-ever European Plan for Affordable Housing for All. Our key priority is affordable housing, because income level should not become a barrier to finding a home. We place emphasis on sustainable housing, as energy-efficient buildings benefit not only the environment but also the family budget," the European Commissioner added.