MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Strengthening the role of local authorities in addressing the housing crisis in the European Union – E-002175/2025

Question for written answer  E-002175/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Elena Kountoura (The Left)

The housing crisis is affecting more and more regions in the EU, with particular intensity in urban centres, islands and remote areas. Local authorities are on the front line of the crisis, facing diverse and often unique challenges, which require solutions tailored to specific local needs. Their active participation is therefore essential for the development and implementation of national housing strategies and for the effective implementation of EU policies. However, access to European financial instruments for local authorities, especially small municipalities, remains limited.[1] To strengthen their capacity to implement housing programmes, there is a need to create specific European programmes and fast-track funding mechanisms for sustainable social and affordable housing, to allocate part of cohesion policy funds directly to local authorities in a targeted manner and to provide technical assistance to mature housing projects, in particular in municipalities without technical capacity.

In view of the above:

• 1.Does the Commission intend to strengthen the institutional participation of local authorities, including island and small municipalities, in the design and implementation of housing policies under cohesion policy after 2027?
• 2.Does the Commission intend to establish specific mechanisms for direct and rapid financing of municipalities for social and affordable housing projects from cohesion policy funds?
• 3.Does the Commission intend to support the creation of public funding intermediaries and the provision of technical assistance for the implementation of housing projects by municipalities with limited technical capacity?

Submitted: 30.5.2025

• [1] The existing European Union financial instruments that can be mobilised to support social and affordable housing initiatives are not sufficiently accessible or adapted to the needs of local and regional authorities. The complexity of application procedures, the lack of technical support and the inadequate direct allocation mechanisms often act as structural barriers for cities and municipalities wishing to access such funds.