El 'lobby' europeo que se vuelca en la construcción de viviendas

The European housing lobby is mobilizing to address the construction of affordable homes, viewing it as a social crisis that weakens European cohesion and threatens competitiveness. This was emphasized by Ursula von der Leyen in her EU State of the Union debate in September last year, when she discussed the housing situation to introduce a new strategy.

The executive branch has intensified its tone and urgency to tackle rising housing costs, which they attribute to a shortage of property supply. Build Europe, an organization representing national federations of housing developers and builders from over 30,000 professionals across ten member states, defends this position. With support from the European Commission, the lobby aims to ensure its voice is heard more prominently than ever before.

The commission has appointed Dan Jørgensen as its first commissioner dedicated to housing, tasked with addressing the crisis. According to data, the EU needs to build 650,000 additional homes annually over the next decade (equivalent to 10 million new properties) to alleviate the affordability crisis. This figure should be added to the 1.6 million units already constructed annually, which the executive believes are insufficient to pressure prices and contain affordability issues.

To tackle this, the Commission plans to mobilize €150 billion in public and private investments to accelerate construction. The European Commission's housing measures place emphasis on increasing supply, reducing bureaucracy, streamlining permitting procedures, and mobilizing private investment alongside public funding. Build Europe values these priorities, particularly the emphasis on boosting housing supply, reducing bureaucracy, and streamlining permitting processes.

The association's campaign will be led by its general president, Filiep Loosveldt, who was appointed in mid-2023. The lobby comprises various bodies: the presidency, the general assembly, and the board of directors, all of which have the assistance of the Joint Committee in carrying out their activities. Andreas Ibel currently presides over the association, headquartered in Brussels' European District at number 20 Avenue of the Arts.

With just three professionals, Build Europe relies on the structures of the national associations it represents in the European capital, including Spain's Association of Building Developers (APCEspaña) and the Zaragoza Provincial Association of Building Developers (ACPZ), represented by Xavier Vilajoana and José Luis Roca Castillo, respectively.

The office is located 20 minutes' walk from the European Parliament and closer to the European Commission, where policymakers can address measures that significantly impact the companies they serve as a reference lobbying group. In September, the Commission will revisit proposals for affordable housing legislation, led by Spain's Vice President Teresa Ribera.

The aim is to provide member states and municipalities with a legal framework to curb price and rental surges. Build Europe, however, focuses on improving supply through mass construction rather than on these measures, as some could restrict investment or impose constraints on developers.