Thank you, Madame President, dear Nadia, Teresa,

Rent has increased by about a quarter in the last 15 years in Europe. House prices have doubled. Last year, 17% of Europeans lived in overcrowded homes, and many spent over 40% of their income on housing.

This crisis impacts people: young families, vulnerable individuals, students, workers, and communities. It threatens social justice, weakens the economy, and reduces competitiveness.

The Commission has launched a Housing Task Force to deliver the European Affordable Housing Plan by 2026. This year, we focus on outreach and partnership to set housing priorities.

We aim to modernize the construction sector to support affordable housing. This includes reducing building costs and enhancing digitalization.

We will examine permitting rules and address short-term rentals economic impacts.

We must leverage energy affordability and sustainability, as many Europeans face energy poverty.

We will collaborate with institutions like the EIB to share best practices and secure funding for housing projects.

The EU is mobilizing funds, such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, for housing investments and energy efficiency renovations.

We encourage Member States to increase funding through Cohesion Policy Funds and seek private investment opportunities.

Innovative investment and strong cooperation are essential for success.

The EIBs investment portal is a vital step towards a pan-European investment platform for housing.

Pan-European cooperation is crucial to address the housing crisis and support European values.

Investing in housing improves competitiveness, tackles homelessness, and enhances community living.

Investments in housing are investments in people: teachers, nurses, and police officers living within the communities they serve.

Thank you to the EIB for hosting this event.