At the meeting, UIPI reiterated its strong support for increasing the supply of social and affordable housing, as this is essential to ensure that all Europeans have access to adequate housing. Strengthening supply also helps ease pressure on the private rented sector and improves access to homeownership. Many UIPI members already contribute directly to this objective through the provision of affordable or social housing.

We welcomed several positive elements in the draft decision, including commitments to a level playing field, greater transparency, and the introduction of affordability indicators. However, we stressed that the new, broader definition of “affordable housing” significantly expands the scope of public intervention. This makes it more important than ever to ensure a clear, reliable, and predictable framework. In particular, the justification for State aid must rest on well-defined market failures, affordability criteria should be made transparent, and safeguards must remain in place to avoid distortions and ensure proportionality.

In concluding, UIPI emphasised that—while respecting subsidiarity—the EU has a key role in fostering a well-functioning housing market that brings together all parts of the system: social and affordable housing, the private rented sector, and property ownership. By ensuring coherence across EU policies, enabling investment, and supporting cooperation between actors, the EU can help build a balanced and resilient housing ecosystem capable of sustainably addressing Europe’s housing challenges.