Access to affordable, adequate and energy-efficient housing has become one of the EU's most pressing socio-economic challenges. Rising house prices and rents, limited affordable supply and regional disparities have intensified housing insecurity, especially for low-income households and young people. Although housing policy remains primarily a national competence, it has gained prominence on the EU agenda in response to concerns about affordability, social exclusion and energy poverty. In December 2025, the European Commission published an affordable housing plan aimed at boosting housing supply, mobilising investment, simplifying permits, and targeting young people and the homeless to facilitate access to affordable housing. Additionally, the Commission provides guidance to Member States on housing issues through the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Semester. The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the main instrument of Next Generation EU, plays a significant role in supporting housing-related reforms and investments through Member States' national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs); it supports 50 housing-related investments and 21 reforms. Housing-related investments are also supported by traditional EU funding instruments under the multiannual financial framework (MFF), including cohesion policy funds and InvestEU. The NRRPs cover a wide range of relevant investment and reform measures, including areas such as social and affordable housing supply, energy renovation, urban regeneration and regulatory reforms. An analysis of the 10 plans with the largest share of measures supporting affordability and availability of housing show the different approaches Member States have taken within the RRF framework. The European Parliament has called for access to decent and affordable housing to be recognised as a fundamental right and put forward a set of recommendations prepared by its Special Committee on the Housing Crisis. Overall, the EU's evolving approach aims to enhance coordination between Member States, increase funding mobilisation and provide clearer policy guidance to tackle the housing crisis. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP Read more