Brussels, 17 September 2024 – Build Europe, the association representing European developers and homebuilders, welcomes the announcement by the President of the European Commission of Dan Jørgensen as the new EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing. With millions of European citizens across the continent unable to access decent housing at affordable prices, Build Europe is encouraged that the EU recognises the urgency of addressing the current affordability crisis. Build Europe and its members are eager to collaborate with Commissioner Jørgensen to tackle the critical challenges facing the housing sector in Europe.
Recognising the importance of housing for EU citizens and the impact of rising housing prices on their lives is the first step toward developing innovative measures to boost both public and private investment in the housing sector, ensuring access to decent and affordable housing for all individuals and families. For this reason, Build Europe looks forward to discussing with Commissioner Jørgensen and the European institutions how the EU can implement effective policies to make housing more accessible and affordable for all Europeans.
Andreas Ibel, President of Build Europe, said: “We are encouraged by the EU’s decision to appoint Commissioner Jørgensen to solve the housing crisis in the EU. While his deep knowledge and experience in the energy sector will be valuable, it is important to remember that the housing challenge extends beyond energy efficiency. It is absolutely vital that EU policymakers take concrete actions to allow developers and homebuilders to build more, simplify planning processes, reduce bureaucracy, and ultimately ensure that all citizens have access to quality homes at affordable prices. We hope that Commissioner Jørgensen will acknowledge that it is imperative that the EU avoids the mistake of further increasing regulation on housing construction – as overregulation is one of the main reasons housing is unaffordable today – and instead focuses on collecting best practices from Member States”.
Filiep Loosveldt, Managing Director of Build Europe, declared: “We are confident that Commissioner Jørgensen will work diligently to lower construction costs and improve access to decent housing for all. However, the EU must resist the temptation of applying ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions, as housing markets vary greatly across Europe. Tailored strategies that respect the unique circumstances of each region are essential. The EU’s role should be to facilitate and incentivise Member States to create optimal conditions for boosting housing supply. For instance, the Commission could explore policies such as reducing or eliminating VAT on new housing construction to help lower costs and encourage more development. We look forward to working closely with Commissioner Jørgensen and the EU institutions to achieve these goals”.