Hojsík and Beňová: European Parliament to Back Initiatives for Enhanced Housing Affordability in the EU

Brussels/Strasbourg – In January, the European Parliament (EP) finalized the formation of the newly established committee focused on the housing crisis in the EU (HOUS). This committee comprises 33 members, including two Slovak MEPs – Martin Hojsík (RE/PS) and Monika Beňová (independent/Smer-SD). Both MEPs shared their insights with TASR regarding the committee’s priorities.

EP Vice President Martin Hojsík views the committee’s establishment as a significant step in addressing this issue at the European level. He expressed optimism that it will positively impact people in Slovakia, particularly young individuals and low-income families.

“Through the work of this new committee, the European Parliament will gain a clearer understanding of the housing crisis, enabling us to identify common solutions and potentially influence the next seven-year EU budget in terms of program development. Our approach will also be informed by the lessons learned from evaluating effective strategies at the European level,” the MEP outlined.

He emphasized the importance of learning from successful models, citing Vienna as an exemplary city known for its outstanding municipal rental housing strategy.

“Cities and municipalities have an in-depth understanding of their housing challenges. By fostering conditions that promote rental housing development, they can strategically plan construction that benefits everyone, not just private investors, thereby enhancing their long-term growth and development,” he stated.

Monika Beňová acknowledged that while this is a new political topic within the EU, it remains a pressing issue. She noted that the current Slovak government has proposed a constructive model aimed at improving the situation, specifically through a plan for the construction of rental housing.

“Developing rental housing is precisely the approach we should actively support through our efforts in the European Parliament and, subsequently, through the European budget. There are resources available that can assist in this endeavor, and the new committee’s goal will be to identify these resources. Across Europe, including Slovakia, we see young people struggling to gain independence due to unaffordable housing prices,” she explained.

She believes that adopting successful practices from other countries where housing support is effective is key to moving forward. “Every successful example is worth emulating, regardless of its country of origin. If proven effective, we should embrace it,” she added. However, she cautioned that member states, including Slovakia, are grappling with budget consolidation, making additional support from the EU budget for housing initiatives especially valuable. (March 10)

“Through the work of this new committee, the European Parliament will gain a clearer understanding of the housing crisis, enabling us to identify common solutions and potentially influence the next seven-year EU budget in terms of program development.” Martin Hojsík