Cyprus's intention to act as a reliable and constructive partner in the European effort to address the housing problem was highlighted by the Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, presenting the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU on housing to a group of foreign journalists and correspondents from Brussels.
In his 14 January presentation, Ioannou referred to the rapidly worsening housing problem, which affects all Member States and has emerged as one of the most central issues in the European public debate. As he noted, despite the fact that housing policy remains a national competence, the increasing difficulty for a large number of European citizens to secure access to affordable and sustainable housing makes a coordinated European response necessary.
According to the Minister, the importance of effectively managing the issue has been recognised at the highest political level in the EU, with the President of the European Commission appointing, for the first time, a Commissioner responsible for housing. In this context and given the Commission's intention to take concrete measures, the first European Affordable Housing Plan was presented in December 2025, which is based on four pillars:
- increasing the supply of housing,
- the mobilisation of investments,
- direct support and promotion of structural reforms, and
- supporting those most affected.
As the Minister of Interior pointed out, affordable housing is one of the key priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. To this end, Cyprus will focus on four main thematic axes: (a) affordable and sustainable housing for all, (b) strengthening investments, (c) increasing the supply of housing, and (d) promoting the exchange of knowledge and data.
During its six-month Presidency, Cyprus will host an Informal Ministerial Meeting on Housing on 11 and 12 May 2026, with the participation of the Commissioner for Housing, relevant Ministers, experts, EU institutions and civil society. The Meeting aims to promote the implementation of the European Affordable Housing Plan. At the same time, as Ioannou noted, the Cyprus Presidency will work towards the adoption of Conclusions for adoption by the EPSCO Council in June 2026, strengthening the collective political commitment at European level.
The Minister of the Interior underlined that addressing the housing crisis is a complex undertaking, emphasising, however, the strong political will for cooperation, so that the crisis can be turned into an opportunity for the European Union, for the benefit of European citizens.
Additionally, in the context of his participation in the discussion that took place yesterday, 15 January, on the sidelines of the visit of the College of Commissioners, Ioannou reiterated that addressing the housing problem constitutes a strategic investment for the competitiveness and resilience of the EU. On the basis of the European Affordable Housing Plan, the Cyprus Presidency will work to strengthen cooperation and achieve tangible results for citizens, taking into account the specificities of the states.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
