We Are Fighting for the Homes and Hearts of Europe - Dan JØRGENSEN’s Call on Housing Crisis on Sep 30, 2025

The video titled "We Are Fighting for the Homes and Hearts of Europe" features a keynote speech by Dan JØRGENSEN, the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, at a High-Level Conference on Affordable and Sustainable Housing organized by EU Debates. This initiative aims to promote informed discussion and engagement on pressing European issues, particularly the ongoing housing crisis.

JØRGENSEN addresses the alarming housing crisis affecting Europe, which encompasses overcrowded homes, skyrocketing rents, and millions of people facing inadequate heating in their residences. He emphasizes that this crisis is not merely about physical structures but fundamentally about dignity, community cohesion, and the essence of democracy itself. The experience of living in secure homes is critical to the perception of democracy, as it fosters feelings of belonging and safety.

The speech highlights troubling statistics: over 25% of individuals aged 15 to 29 live in overcrowded conditions, and many young people are compelled to live with their parents until well into their thirties due to housing unaffordability. Additionally, 47 million citizens in Europe struggle to heat their homes adequately, and over 1 million people, including 400,000 children, lack a stable place to live. These figures underscore the urgent need for effective solutions to the housing crisis.

To address these issues, JØRGENSEN proposes a bold European Affordable Housing Plan aimed at increasing EU funding, implementing fairer regulations, and targeting investments to support the most vulnerable populations, including young people and families. The plan emphasizes the need for collaborative action across various levels of governance—European, national, regional, and local—to ensure that affordable and sustainable housing becomes a reality for all citizens.

The plan calls for a significant increase in EU funding for housing under the cohesion policy, with efforts to double support. JØRGENSEN stresses that public funding alone cannot meet housing needs, necessitating the involvement of private investments. He aims to pursue alternative financing models and enhance collaboration between public and private sectors to fulfill housing requirements effectively.

JØRGENSEN underscores the necessity of revising cumbersome regulations and cutting red tape that hampers the delivery of affordable housing. He advocates for mobilizing resources in the construction sector, which produces over 18,000 tons of cement every hour in Europe and employs 27 million workers. Streamlining planning and permitting processes will unlock the potential for new housing projects.

A core aspect of the plan involves exchanging best practices across Europe. JØRGENSEN highlights the importance of replicating successful strategies from cities that are effectively combating homelessness and providing affordable housing. By sharing these solutions, the aim is to ensure that every European community can benefit from effective housing policies.

Dan JØRGENSEN’s speech serves as a rallying call for comprehensive action to resolve the housing crisis in Europe. He emphasizes that this challenge is a defining test for European democracy and urges collective action to secure housing as a fundamental right for all. The fight for dignity, community, and sustainable housing is presented as a critical endeavor for the future of Europe.