The EPSCO Council (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council), under the Danish Presidency, approved on 1 December the “Presidency Conclusions on the future European Affordable Housing Plan”, a document promoted by the Danish EU Presidency and supported by 26 Member States. The adoption of these conclusions marks a turning point in the European social agenda: for the first time, a common political framework is established to guide the future legislative proposal of the Commission on affordable housing, integrating objectives related to social inclusion, the fight against homelessness and the reduction of territorial inequalities.
A key political context: the relevance of the EPSCO Council in the housing agenda.
The conclusions were adopted by the EPSCO Council, the configuration of the Council of the European Union that brings together ministers responsible for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs. This forum coordinates European social policies and oversees the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
The document acknowledges that affordable and adequate housing has become a structural challenge, exacerbated by the rising cost of living, energy prices, the deterioration of the existing housing stock and territorial inequalities. Among the groups most affected are young people, single-parent families, persons with disabilities, vulnerable communities and people experiencing homelessness. The Council also calls for the promotion of inclusive neighbourhoods and the prevention of social and territorial segregation, avoiding the spatial concentration of poverty. To this end, it recommends progress towards mixed-housing models that foster greater social, cultural and economic integration, supported by adequate public infrastructure and local policies that take into account the risk of gentrification (paragraph 39.E).
Member States are called upon to intensify cooperation at regional and local level, particularly through the exchange of knowledge and experience, with the aim of addressing the main housing-related challenges.
Although the conclusions recognise the need to further reinforce and strengthen efforts in the field of inclusion, the commitments adopted remain more declaratory than operational, and there is an ongoing demand for more concrete measures capable of translating these principles into effective action on the ground. The main recommendations of the document can be grouped into five thematic blocks: the design of the European Affordable Housing Plan; financing; construction and sustainability; urban planning; social inclusion; and cooperation between the European Union and the Member States.
Specific references to residential segregation, segregated settlements and the Roma population
In addition to the general recommendations, the document contains explicit and strategic references addressing three key areas of housing exclusion: social and territorial segregation, degraded or segregated settlements (often linked to informal housing ), and the specific situation of the Roma population.
These references appear in two distinct parts of the document: the RECALLING section, which reaffirms previous Council commitments, and the operational section of recommendations, which guides future actions by Member States and the Commission.
The text refers to the Council Conclusions on measures to ensure equal access for the Roma population to adequate and desegregated housing, and to address segregated settlements, adopted under the Spanish Presidency.
Roma population and segregated settlements
Member States recall their previous commitments to Roma inclusion. At this point, the document explicitly cites the need to ensure access for the Roma population to adequate and non-segregated housing, and to address existing segregated settlements.
This reference serves as a political reminder primarily addressed to Member States, underlining that housing exclusion affecting Roma communities continues to be a European priority. Its inclusion implies that any future housing-related action must take into account the persistence of marginal settlements and the obligation to move forward in their dismantling or transformation.
Residential segregation: an operational mandate
The most direct and explicit reference appears in the recommendations section, in paragraph 39.E, which expressly urges Member States to promote inclusive neighbourhoods, prevent social and territorial segregation, and avoid the spatial concentration of poverty in both new and existing neighbourhoods.
Further information:
Presidency conclusions on the future European Affordable Housing Plan
