Brussels doubles the amount of EU money available for affordable housing – politico

The announcement occurred during the mid-term examination of the program by nearly 400 billion euros, which the Commission created to reduce the disparities between the block regions, but now wants to use for priority problems such as defense expenses, competitiveness and housing.

Members of the South of the EU such as Italy and Spain, which have reacted coldly to the reuse of Cohesion Funds for Defense, are likely to be appeased by the increased allowance for the construction of houses. The soaring housing and rents led to mass demonstrations in the two countries and put politicians under pressure to extend the affordable housing.

The energy and housing commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, told Politico that the doubling of the cohesion funds available for houses underlines Brussels’s commitment to assume the affordability of housing.

“The housing crisis in Europe is one of the most urgent problems where our citizens expect rapid action,” he said. “It is an imperative for social cohesion and economic prosperity.”

The chairman of the Ursula von der Leyen commission has made the crisis, which fuels support for far -right parties through the block, a priority question for her second mandate. She first mentioned the possibility of increasing cohesion funds for housing during her speech to the European Parliament before her re -election last summer.

The Commission should reveal a plan to stimulate public and private investments in the construction of houses later this year.

Gregorio Sorgi contributed the reports.