Commission decision of 20 December 2011 on the application of Article 106(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to State aid in the form of public service compensation granted t...

CALL FOR EVIDENCE Ref. Ares(2025)4502645 - 05/06/2025 FOR AN INITIATIVE (without an impact assessment) TITLE OF THE INITIATIVE State aid - revision of rules on services of general economic interest, in particular on housing LEAD DG – RESPONSIBLE UNIT COMP/F2 [Taskforce on critical medicines and social, affordable and energyefficient housing] LIKELY TYPE OF INITIATIVE Commission decision and possibly Commission communication INDICATIVE TIMING Q1-2026 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION State aid rules on services of general economic interest A. Political context, problem definition and subsidiarity check Political context Housing affordability has become a critical issue in the EU, affecting millions of families, young people and others who are unable to access appropriate housing at an affordable price. The problem is not confined to lower income groups but also affects a wider section of society. There are various reasons for this, including rising demand in urban areas, increasing housing costs (including high energy bills), housing supply shortage, an ageing building stock, regional economic disparities and tourism/short-term rentals. In response to the acute housing crisis, the Commission has appointed a Commissioner for Housing and has set up a Task Force on Affordable Housing to coordinate Commission workstreams on housing. The Commission will put forward a European Affordable Housing Plan in 2026 to complement Member States, regional and...