It was a great pleasure to welcome the coalition of Mayors for Housing to Brussels once again, a pan European, cross-party alliance representing cities and towns from all corners of Europe. As you know, following our first meeting last year, the European Council had a first-ever exchange of views on affordable housing in October. The issue has since remained on top of the European Union agenda. More specifically, the European Commission is advancing in the preparations of the Affordable Housing Act and consulting all stakeholders. Housing – its affordability and accessibility – is one of the most pressing, concrete issues for millions of Europeans. Affordable housing is vital for social cohesion and fairness. And the lack of it is at the core of people’s disillusionment with democratic institutions. We have designated 2026 as the year of European competitiveness. Last week, the European institutions endorsed the 'One Europe, One Market' roadmap, our plan to deliver greater European competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy. A competitive Europe needs to ensure access to affordable housing across regions and groups of our population, notably the young generation and vulnerable people. We know that housing scarcity is reducing labour mobility and productivity, and has adverse effects on demography, consumption and fiscal sustainability, therefore increasing vulnerabilities and precarity. The mayors of towns and cities are on the frontline to address housing scarcity, to mitigate affordability pressure within specific areas, to mobilise the funding needed to renovate the existing stock of houses and to build new ones. This is a clear multi-level governance issue. That is why, although competences for affordable housing remain at national, regional, and local level, it is important for us to consider how the European Union can complement and support those efforts in full respect of the subsidiarity principle. Given the magnitude of the challenges, we must continue to act together to restore access to affordable and sustainable houses. Because if an issue is important for European citizens, it must be important for the European institutions. Housing will be one of the issues on the minds of European Leaders when we are discussing the European Union long term budget, the so called next Multiannual Financial Framework, at the June European Council. Social and affordable housing, as well as fighting poverty and homelessness, and supporting investment in social infrastructure, will be specific objectives of the new National and Regional Partnership Plans proposed by the European Commission. This approach will give member states, regions, and cities the flexibility to prioritize housing solutions that address their local needs, because, as we know, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to this problem. And the forthcoming Affordable Housing Act, to be presented by the Commission later this year, should provide the necessary support to mayors and other actors in tailoring the policy response, notably on issues such as short-term rentals or speculation. Today, my agenda was very much focused on the concerns that touch upon citizens’ daily lives. Another issue, where the mayors of our towns and cities are at the forefront, is drugs. Across Europe, the drugs phenomenon is growing in both complexity and scale. Over half of the EU’s most dangerous criminal networks are involved in trafficking – making this a strategic threat to our cities, our economies, and European citizens’ lives. So, this morning, I brought together experts and leaders from key EU agencies to exchange views on the problem and consider possible ways forward, from health dimension to law enforcement dimension. It is another of those multi-level governance issues, that EU Leaders may well touch upon in the future. Let me conclude by thanking all the mayors that came today for their contributions and proposals. I am committed to continue our work together on housing policy. And let me reassure you that this topic will remain on the Leaders’ agenda. Together with the European Commission, the incoming Irish Council Presidency is organising a Summit on Housing during their mandate, and it will also be part of the discussions on the next EU long term budget. Thank you very much. Grazie mille. Merci beaucoup. Muchas gracias.
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