How to watch the Committee on Housing Crisis (special committee) (HOUS)

Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

MEP–panel debate on rights, markets, speculation and investment

Alicia Homs Ginel and 9 others

MEPs from S&D, Renew, Greens, Left and EPP engage with the panel on housing as a right versus an asset, EU and national powers to curb speculative investment and vacancies, scope of public support and safeguards in Italy’s private‑fund pillar, institutional investor impacts, Berlin’s experience, homelessness and worker shortages, and the adequacy of the Affordable Housing Act and upcoming Commission work on speculative practices.

In this chapter

1. Start of political debate: rights vs market framingAlicia Homs Ginel
2. Chair Tinagli and Pereca: rebalancing market logicsIrene Tinagli
3. Hojsík: vacant investment housing and land tax replyMartin Hojsík

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Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Expert and local authority inputs on housing policy tools

Irene Tinagli S&D

Academic, national, local and NGO speakers present analytical frameworks and policy instruments on housing markets, covering market vs state roles, vacancy and speculation, Italy’s Piano Casa architecture, Croatia’s municipal three‑pillar strategy, and The Shift’s human‑rights‑based approach and proposed EU anti‑speculation toolbox.

In this chapter

1. Expert Oberst: market vs state, vacancy and speculationIrene Tinagli
2. Italy’s Piano Casa: three pillars and fundingIrene Tinagli
3. Croatian mayor: three-pillar local housing strategyIrene Tinagli
4. The Shift: housing as a human right and EU leversIrene Tinagli

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Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Opening and framing of housing affordability hearing

Irene Tinagli and 1 other

Chair Tinagli and ECON Vice‑Chair Niedermayer formally open the HOUS committee meeting, adopt the agenda, outline the mandate and format of the public hearing, and frame the EU‑level questions on speculation, taxation, state aid and financial policy for restoring housing affordability.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting: agenda, mandate and framingIrene Tinagli
2. ECON Vice-Chair: EU financial policies and questionsLuděk Niedermayer

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Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Second Q&A round: supply debate, market freedoms and financialization

Regina Doherty and 9 others

A shortened second round sees centre‑right groups criticising the Act for not directly boosting housing supply and for constraining capital and tourist rentals, while S&D and Renew emphasise affordability tools, primary residence protection and member state responsibility, and Greens and non‑attached members raise concerns over large corporate landlords, speculative vacancy and the right to housing versus property rights.

In this chapter

1. Second round start: urgency vs. scope of first ActRegina Doherty
2. EPP and ECR opposition on supply, market freedoms and timingMarco Falcone
3. Final questions: member state responsibility, bureaucracy and financializationGeorgios Aftias

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Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

First Q&A round: political reactions, subsidiarity and stressed areas

Borja Giménez Larraz and 7 others

MEPs from EPP, S&D, PfE, ECR, Renew, Greens and The Left deliver initial reactions, clashing over the proposal’s interventionism, its focus on short‑term rentals and vacant housing, criteria for stressed areas, and the balance between local regulation and market freedoms, while the Commissioner defends the legal basis, optional nature of measures and focus on income‑to‑price ratios and concentration effects.

In this chapter

1. First Q&A: EPP criticism and S&D supportBorja Giménez Larraz
2. Second Q&A: subsidiarity, stressed areas and ideological clashGyörgy Hölvényi
3. Financing gap, EU ‘keys guarantee’ and Greens’ concernsCiaran Mullooly
4. The Left: housing as a right and financialization worriesKonstantinos Arvanitis

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Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Opening and Commission presentation of Affordable Housing Act

Dirk Gotink PPE

The acting chair opens the special housing committee meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, then gives the floor to Commissioner Jørgensen for the presentation of the new Affordable Housing Act, focusing on EU competence, stressed housing areas, short‑term rentals, vacant homes and the balance between local flexibility and internal market rules.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and agenda adoptionDirk Gotink
2. Commissioner Jørgensen: presentation of Affordable Housing ActDirk Gotink

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Expert presentations: cooperative, social and cost‑effective housing models

Gabriele Bischoff S&D

Sequential expert inputs from Spain, Poland, Romania and Hamburg present cooperative use‑right housing, social rental agencies, a broader affordability framework and regulatory reform, and a cost‑reduction construction standard, highlighting concrete public-support tools, regulatory needs and potential for EU‑level uptake.

In this chapter

1. Hearing opening and Spanish cooperative housingGabriele Bischoff
2. Poland: role of social rental agencies in EU housing policyGabriele Bischoff
3. Romania: redefining affordability and reforming building controlGabriele Bischoff
4. Hamburg cost‑effective construction initiative and standardGabriele Bischoff

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

MEP scrutiny of EU Affordable Housing Plan and speculation

Leila Chaibi and 5 others

Extended Q&A where MEP Chaibi and others challenge the ambition and design of the EU Affordable Housing Plan, probe the role of speculation and institutional investors, and obtain expert and Commission reactions on EU-level financing tools, anti-gouging measures, and planned follow‑up by 2026–2027.

In this chapter

1. MEP Chaibi’s critique of EU housing plan and expert responsesLeila Chaibi
2. Catch-the-eye round: affordability, speculation and migrationGeorgiana Teodorescu
3. Housing speculation study: final political reactionsGabriele Bischoff

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Political groups’ Q&A: speculation, funds and EU framework

Gabriele Bischoff and 2 others

S&D and Greens MEPs question experts on distinguishing investors from speculators, transparency, taxation, non‑profit housing and EU‑level regulation, prompting expert assessments of speculation drivers, major funds, bubble risks, limits of rent caps and the role of EU tax and support rules in shaping speculative models.

In this chapter

1. Opening of Q&A and group questions (S&D, Greens)Gabriele Bischoff
2. Experts’ assessments: speculation drivers, funds, bubble risks and EU tax frameworkGabriele Bischoff

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Committee opening, mandate and study findings

Gabriele Bischoff S&D

The Chair opens the special committee meeting, explains the extended mandate and introduces the commissioned study, followed by experts presenting definitions, data on housing financialisation, speculative practices, institutional entry into housing, and EU‑level policy gaps and recommendations.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and study mandateGabriele Bischoff
2. Expert presentation: concepts, data and speculative practices
3. Institutional entry into housing and EU policy response

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

National promotional banks: Croatia and Catalonia housing instruments

Irene Tinagli S&D

National and regional promotional banks from Croatia and Catalonia present their housing mandates and instruments, including upcoming national housing laws, revolving funds, long‑term subsidised loans and youth homeownership schemes, and outline specific EU‑level regulatory changes needed on state‑aid and EU budget rules to scale blended affordable housing finance.

In this chapter

1. Croatia: housing pressures, policy reforms and revolving fundIrene Tinagli
2. ICF (Catalonia): housing mandate, instruments and EU frameworkIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

National promotional banks: France and Italy housing instruments

Irene Tinagli S&D

Banque des Territoires and CDP present long-term housing finance models, including regulated-savings, fund-of-funds equity structures and InvestEU-backed lending, outline national 2030 housing roadmaps, and call for EU recognition of housing as strategic infrastructure with stronger blending, subsidies and guarantees.

In this chapter

1. Banque des Territoires and ELTI: long-term housing finance and EU asksIrene Tinagli
2. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti: Italian fund-of-funds model and InvestEU useIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Opening of hearing and EU-level housing mandates

Irene Tinagli S&D

The Chair opens the special committee hearing, adopts the agenda and minutes, then the EIB and Council of Europe Development Bank set out their mandates, housing action plans and financial instruments for affordable and social housing across Europe, highlighting needs for guarantees, subsidies and EU platforms.

In this chapter

1. Opening of hearing and agenda adoptionIrene Tinagli
2. EIB: mandate, housing action plan and instrumentsIrene Tinagli
3. Council of Europe Development Bank: social housing focus and financing gapsIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Stakeholder evidence: tenants, cities and energy agencies

Irene Tinagli S&D

Tenant organisations and local authorities describe how rising rents and energy prices drive housing and energy poverty, underline split‑incentive problems in renovations, and call for EU‑level safeguards, funding access and a stronger formal role for cities and energy agencies in delivering affordable, efficient housing.

In this chapter

1. Tenants’ organisations: energy poverty, safeguards and EU actIrene Tinagli
2. Cities and energy agencies: local delivery and EU funding roleIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Structural renovation solutions and social housing models

Irene Tinagli S&D

Expert stakeholders present EU‑level renovation and financing asks, showcase the Austrian limited‑profit cost‑rent model for affordable and climate‑neutral housing, and outline how deep, well‑structured renovation policies, stable support schemes and post‑2030 targets can align affordability with large‑scale decarbonisation of the housing stock.

In this chapter

1. Efficient Buildings Europe: role and EU policy asksIrene Tinagli
2. Austria’s limited‑profit housing: model and decarbonisationIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Hearing context and EU energy–housing framework

Irene Tinagli S&D

The Chair and Commission frame the hearing around energy prices, housing affordability and energy poverty, detailing current energy market risks, the Affordable Energy Plan instruments, and renovation‑related measures before introducing the CEDEX/Burgos work on integrating build time, energy performance and industrialised renovation into affordability analysis.

In this chapter

1. Hearing opening and Commission energy–housing assessmentIrene Tinagli
2. CEDEX mandate, Burgos case and renovation industrialisationIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Panel 3: Confiscated assets, social reuse and EU framework

Italian and Romanian asset management agencies explain their models for transferring confiscated properties to public and social uses, including housing and community services, and answer questions on scale, ownership structures, timelines and funding, before closing reflections from Member States and the Commission link asset reuse to the Protect EU strategy, the new asset recovery directive and forthcoming organized‑crime legislation.

In this chapter

1. Transition to Panel 3: confiscated assets and social reuse
2. Italy ANBSC: model for social and housing reuse of confiscated assets
3. Romania ANABI: asset recovery, social reuse and crime prevention fund

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Panel 2: Member State AML tools and real estate market impact

Irene Tinagli and 1 other

Germany’s FIU, Italy’s Guardia di Finanza and Romania’s economic crime police present national risk patterns and legal countermeasures against property‑based money laundering, then respond to MEPs on cooperation with the new AML Authority, cross‑border asset recovery, Romanian reforms, and whether illicit funds are confined to luxury segments or spread across the wider housing market and vacant stock.

In this chapter

1. Panel 2 intro: Member State practices on real estate crimeIrene Tinagli
2. Germany FIU: real estate money laundering risks and legal countermeasuresSonja Schulz
3. Italy Guardia di Finanza: ‘follow the money’ and asset confiscationIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Panel 1: EU agencies on real estate crime and enforcement gaps

Irene Tinagli and 8 others

Europol and EPPO detail how criminal groups use real estate both as an operational base and as a laundering vehicle, outline fraud against EU housing and renovation funds, and highlight weak reporting by non‑financial gatekeepers, before MEPs question them on simplification, AML rules, cash purchases and database access, and receive answers on enforcement deficits, data access and the scale of property‑based laundering.

In this chapter

1. Europol: criminal use of properties beyond money laundering
2. Europol: real estate money laundering typologies and DNFBPsIrene Tinagli
3. EPPO: fraud against EU housing funds and renovation schemes

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting

Opening and AML policy framework

Irene Tinagli and 1 other

The Chair and ECON vice‑chair formally open the hearing, adopt the agenda and set out its focus on criminal use of housing and real estate, situating the discussion within EU money‑laundering risk assessments and the 2024 AML package before introducing Panel 1 with Europol and EPPO.

In this chapter

1. Opening: agenda, objectives and panelsIrene Tinagli
2. ECON vice-chair Niedermayer: risks of criminal money in real estateLuděk Niedermayer
3. Panel 1 intro: role of Europol and EPPOIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting - Joint with IMCO Committee

Student and trainee housing workshop: mandate and expert findings

Irene Tinagli S&D

Tinagli opens the student and trainee housing workshop linked to the Affordable Housing Plan, and three academic experts present EU-wide evidence on student housing shortages, financialisation of PBSA, governance gaps, and case-study insights such as Vienna’s social and student housing model.

In this chapter

1. Student and trainee housing workshop: context and study mandateIrene Tinagli
2. Hoekstra: EU student housing deficits and six‑point agendaIrene Tinagli
3. Uyttebrouck: financialised PBSA, youth precarity and governanceIrene Tinagli
4. Franz: student housing as social infrastructure, Vienna caseIrene Tinagli

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting - Joint with IMCO Committee

Joint hearing conclusions: next steps on housing and construction

Maria Grapini and 1 other

The Commission and co-chair Grapini underline housing as a shared EU–national–industry responsibility, stress the need for strong market surveillance and trust in products, and signal that the debate will inform upcoming legislative and regulatory initiatives.

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting - Joint with IMCO Committee

Panel 2: CPR, harmonised standards and digitalisation

Maria Grapini and 3 others

DG GROW presents the construction strategy around CPR revision, digital tools and permitting, followed by industry and standardisation bodies on CPR implementation costs, digital product passports and harmonised standards, and a Q&A on binding rules, market surveillance, permitting and skills shortages.

In this chapter

1. Panel 2 opening: DG GROW construction strategy and digitalisationMaria Grapini
2. Construction Products Europe: CPR revision, DPP and costsMaria Grapini
3. CEN‑CENELEC: role of harmonised standards and CPR challenges
4. Panel 2 Q&A: harmonisation, surveillance, permits and skillsIsabelle Le Callennec

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Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union Ordinary meeting - Joint with IMCO Committee

Panel 1 Q&A: regulation, EPBD, finance and quality

Borja Giménez Larraz and 3 others

MEPs question high material costs, regulatory burdens, Eurocodes, recycling barriers, EPBD transposition, housing finance and construction quality, while the Commission and stakeholders clarify the planned simplification package, Affordable Housing Act, investment platforms and safeguards against deregulation before closing Panel 1.

In this chapter

1. Q&A 1: regulatory burdens, Eurocodes and recycling barriersBorja Giménez Larraz
2. Q&A 2: EPBD transposition, Affordable Housing Act and financeIrene Tinagli
3. Q&A 3: simplification vs deregulation and quality controlLuke Ming Flanagan
4. Q&A 4 and panel 1 conclusion: New European Bauhaus and flexible useIrene Tinagli

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