Results of the meeting of European housing policy ministers
Group photo
© Laurent Mignaux-MEEDDAT
- On: 24.11.2008
- In: Marseille
This meeting will be followed by two days of meetings between the European ministers for urban development, planning and cohesion policy. Thus, the different policies contributing to good urban development, particularly with regard to social aspects, will be debated and barriers between sectoral policies overcome.
Ministers shared information on practices in their countries in terms of access to housing, based on a vast survey carried out by the French presidency in 2008 and on an examination of national legislation. Although housing policies are not Community policies and fall under the principle of subsidiarity, the ministers dealt with issues relating to the impact of European policies on access to housing. They hoped that the link between European and national levels would be examined regularly at future meetings of housing policy ministers.
The ministers listened to the report by the president of the European Housing Forum which brings together European organisations working in the area of housing. They were also informed of the content of briefings of the European Commission and the European Parliament which works actively on housing issues.
Difficulties encountered by a significant proportion of the population in finding housing - and not only the most underprivileged - were at the heart of discussions. Ministers emphasised that the current crisis in Europe calls for intervention at all levels to guarantee the fundamental right of access to decent housing. To this end, ministers believe that it is necessary to organise a consensus conference on homelessness.
They have adopted a final communiqué calling on Member States and institutions to pursue work on knowledge of the housing market and the different policies influencing it and to exchange information regularly.
The next meeting of the housing policy ministers will be organised by Spain in the first half of 2010.
Results of the meeting of European ministers for regional development and cohesion policy (Report)
Results of the meeting of the ministers for urban development (Report)
Informal meeting of ministers for housing, urban development, regional development and cohesion policy (Announcement)
- Updated: 28.12.2008
