Opening statement by Commissioner Jørgensen at the Inter-parliamentary committee meeting on ‘Affordable Housing for all: Policy approaches and best practice cases in the Member States'

European Commission -Speech [Check Against Delivery] Opening statement by Commissioner Jørgensen at the Interparliamentary committee meeting on ‘Affordable Housing for all: Policy approaches and best practice cases in the Member States' Brussels, 9 April 2025 Thank you so much and good afternoon dear friends! Thank you for joining us here today: for those tuning in online, and especially for those of you who have travelled all the way to Brussels In all corners of Europe, from Malmo to Malta, from Lublin to Dublin, housing is a number 1 priority for our citizens. We are all faced with big challenges. But in every town, city and Member State impacted by the housing crisis, we also have a variety of ideas being generated, different approaches being tested, different solutions being applied. That is why we're here today, to discuss what works well in one part of Europe, and see if it could also work well in another part. If there is a particular challenge being faced in one country, maybe it has been faced in another country before, and they can share their approach. Let me be clear: we need more affordable housing. Over the last 15 years, rents have gone up by a quarter, and house prices are up by a half. We also need more decent housing. It is not just about increasing quantity; it is about investing in quality – developing more accessible and durable homes. Also, we need more sustainable housing. By helping European households to increase their...