EU Housing Ministers Meet in Nicosia to Tackle Affordable Housing

The European Union held an informal ministerial meeting on housing in Nicosia on May 11–12, 2026 under the Cypriot Presidency of the Council. Chaired by Cyprus' Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou, the gathering was attended by EU housing ministers, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, and representatives of EU institutions and the housing sector.

Delegates focused on improving the affordability, sustainability and social dimension of housing across EU member states, noting rising costs, structural shortages and demographic pressures. Discussions targeted the simplification of licensing procedures, better coordination among authorities and the use of digital tools to enhance efficiency, while maintaining high environmental and planning standards.

The second part of the summit addressed the investment gap in housing, exploring public‑private cooperation, increased access to financing and the mobilisation of EU funds such as the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism, cohesion funds and the forthcoming European Investment Platform. Participants also visited cultural sites in Ammohostos and attended a dinner hosted by the Cypriot Ministry of the Interior.