EU Opens Funding for Public Housing

Why this is here: The European Parliament formally recognized “affordable housing” as a separate category last September, opening it up to funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

Marcos Ros Sempere, a Member of the European Parliament, announced new pathways for public housing investment in Azerbaijan during the World Urbanism Forum. He stated a recent mid-term review allowed access to the European Regional Development Fund for public housing, a previously unavailable option.

The European Parliament adopted “affordable housing” as a distinct concept in September. This expands funding beyond traditional social housing to include diverse, sustainable models. Sempere advocates integrating housing policy with land use, transportation, energy efficiency, and climate goals.

Currently, fragmented management of budgets and policies hinders progress. The Parliament plans to prioritize increased funding for housing within the next multiannual financial framework, spanning 2028 to 2034. The World Urbanism Forum in Baku continues to May 22, hosting over 40,000 participants from 182 countries.