This webinar will examine how the European Affordable Housing Plan addresses Europe’s housing crisis as a strategic challenge for competitiveness and social cohesion.
Europe’s housing crisis is no longer only a social challenge; it has become a critical competitiveness issue. Soaring house prices, rising rents, and a persistent shortage of affordable homes are constraining labour mobility, deepening inequalities, and placing increasing pressure on Europe’s economic growth model.
This webinar explores the European Affordable Housing Plan, the EU’s first comprehensive framework designed to address the structural causes of the housing crisis. The discussion will examine how the Plan seeks to increase housing supply, mobilise public and private investment, simplify regulatory frameworks, and strengthen support for cities, regions, and Member States; while reinforcing social cohesion and Europe’s long-term economic resilience.
The webinar will also connect the priorities of the Plan with the cities of tomorrow, highlighting how affordable housing policy intersects with the reimagining of urban infrastructure, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
Participants will gain practical insights into the Plan’s four pillars, boosting housing supply, mobilising investment, enabling reforms, and supporting the most affected groups, alongside an overview of recent changes to EU funding instruments and State aid rules. The discussion will focus on what these measures mean in practice for policymakers, housing providers, cities, and investors across Europe.
The European Affordable Housing Plan was adopted by the European Commission in December last year. Its preparation was led by the Task Force on Housing within the Commission, under the leadership of Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director-General at DG Energy. He will deliver the keynote address at the webinar, offering first-hand insights into the Plan’s objectives and implementation.
Programme
Moderator: Andris Piebalgs, Part-time Professor, FSR
Keynote presentation: Matthew Baldwin, DDG DG Energy, Head of TFH, EC
Discussant: Mārtiņš Staķis, MEP, former Mayor of Riga (TBC)
Panel discussion: Housing Plan and Cities of tomorrow
Gwen Colin, ESG Director of Vauban Infrastructure Partners
Thomas Bourleaud, Project Leader at Altermind
Christopher Jones, Part-time Professor, FSR (TBC)
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