Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002174/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Elena Kountoura (The Left)
According to a recent opinion from the European Court of Auditors,[1] the Commission proposal in the context of the mid-term review of cohesion policy,[2] which allows for the financing of investments in ‘affordable housing’ through cohesion funds, has gaps and carries the risk that the support will mainly benefit property owners, without hitting its real social target. While recognising the widespread lack of and urgent need to support affordable housing in the Member States, the proposal: a) is not accompanied by any definition of ‘affordable housing’, b) does not clearly define the types of eligible housing or the target social groups, c) is not based on any gap analysis to demonstrate where European intervention is most needed, and d) does not clarify how this expenditure will contribute in practice to improving the functioning of national housing markets.
In view of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission intend to propose a clear, commonly accepted definition of ‘affordable housing’ for the purposes of cohesion policy and to specify the types of housing that can be considered eligible for funding, as well as the social groups it seeks to benefit?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to carry out a gap analysis at Union level on affordable housing, in order to guide targeted interventions in the Member States?
- 3.What measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the funds are truly socially targeted and to avoid European support becoming an indirect tool for profiteering?
Submitted: 30.5.2025
- [1] Opinion 02/2025 (pursuant to Article 322, TFEU) concerning the proposal 2025/0084 (COD) for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1058 and (EU) 2021/1056 as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the midterm review and the proposal 2025/0085 (COD) for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund + (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges, https://www.eca.europa.eu/el/publications/op-2025-02.
- [2] A modernised Cohesion Policy: The mid-term review, https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/communication/mid-term-review-2025/communication-mid-term-review-2025_en.pdf.