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Europe’s housing crisis is no longer looming — it’s already squeezing those least able to afford it: renters and low-income households.
Over the past decade, prices have surged while wages have stagnated, leaving millions struggling to afford basic housing.
The pressure is especially intense in Southern Europe, where rising rents, overtourism and short-term rentals in cities have pushed locals out, fueling protests and political backlash.
At the same time, there is a lack of infrastructure. Countries like Germany and The Netherlands are missing construction targets and deadlines, while waiting lists for social housing keep growing, some families are on waiting lists for ten years.
The European Union is pushing for more investment and simpler rules to boost affordable housing supply, but governments remain divided on how far to go.
The crisis is no longer just about housing; it is becoming a test of Europe’s economic model and social stability. So who should pay to fix it? And how?
Facing off in The Ring are two members of the European Parliament: Dirk Gotink (EPP) from the Netherlands, vice-chair of the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU, and Maria Ohisalo (Greens), a former housing minister from Finland.
As energy prices are skyrocketing right now, it makes it much more expensive to build homes. This makes the task of paving the way for a housing policy – including in Europe – much more complicated.
Another problem is the demographic factor. Young people are still living with their parents because they can’t find a home, the average age being 26 when they leave – in southern Europe it’s more than 30%.
Housing is not an exclusive competence of the Union, but it is a shared crisis affecting many people across Europe. And above all: this crisis will not resolve itself.
This episode of The Ring is anchored by Stefan Grobe, produced by Luis Albertos and Amaia Echevarria, and edited by Vassilis Glynos.
Watch The Ring on Euronews TV or in the player above and send us your views by writing to [email protected].