European Parliament Committee Criticizes Draft Report on Housing Crisis
The European Parliament’s special committee addressing the housing crisis within the EU has evaluated its initial draft report, revealing significant discontent among Socialists and Democrats (S&D) members. They argue that the insights gathered through extensive consultations have not been adequately reflected, reports 24brussels.
After months of hearings and consultations with various experts and stakeholders, the committee has produced a draft that S&D MEPs find lacking. They assert that their efforts to prioritize housing on the EU agenda have not been acknowledged, labeling the draft as “unacceptable.”
The S&D group highlighted their disappointment with the process, claiming it exhibits a “blatant disregard for the working methods and ethos of this House.” Gaby Bischoff, the S&D vice-president for social Europe, criticized the draft for being heavily influenced by Spanish EPP ideology, devoid of concrete solutions.
“Housing is far too important to European citizens to waste this opportunity on ideological battles. We will focus on the substance and dedicate ourselves to building alliances with those who want to ensure that a home is a human right, not a privilege for the few. We want more EU investment in affordable and decent homes. We want proper regulation of short-term rentals so our cities are for living, not just tourism. We want to end speculation and financialisation. We also want to strengthen tenants’ rights, protect the housing rights of the most vulnerable, and eradicate homelessness.”
In a parallel development, the European Commission has initiated action against several EU member states for failing to notify the transposition of EU directives into national law, following the expiration of the recent deadline. The Commission has issued formal notices to these countries, allowing them two months to respond and comply with the directives.
Should these member states fail to meet the deadline, the Commission may move forward with a “reasoned opinion.” The states involved include Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden, and the directives pertain to issues of financial stability, home affairs, and health.
