During a CoR plenary debate on housing, ECR Vice-President Anna Magyar stressed the need for a pragmatic approach that respects national and regional competences while addressing the increasing housing affordability crisis.  

“Access to affordable housing is one of the most pressing concerns for our citizens. It directly affects the quality of life across our regions and cities, and it increasingly delays young people in starting families, deepening Europe’s demographic crisis,” she said. Magyar underlined that Europe’s housing challenges cannot be addressed through a one-size-fits-all approach. Housing systems, financing structures and social housing models vary significantly across Member States, making it essential to uphold the principle of subsidiarity and allow local and regional authorities to develop solutions tailored to their specific circumstances.  

Increasing housing supply should be the central objective in addressing affordability, she argued. This requires innovating the construction sector, investing in skills and removing unnecessary regulatory barriers that push up costs for citizens and builders alike. Magyar warned that excessively burdensome top-down renovation requirements risk undermining affordability rather than improving it. 

“Owning a home fosters a sense of belonging, personal responsibility, and long-term stability – conditions that are essential for starting a family,” she said.  Magyar stressed that broader pressures on housing markets, including migration-related challenges and the protection of property rights, must also be addressed as part of a comprehensive strategy to restore balance and encourage investment.