Talk about affordable housing

At the invitation of my dear colleague from our Greens/EFA political group, Nicu Ștefănuță, I met with a group of young people from Romania to discuss one of the biggest problems of today's generation: affordable housing.

Croatia and Romania are going through a very similar housing crisis.

We discussed how the belief that real estate is the best and safest investment further fuels speculation and price growth, and housing, which should be a fundamental right, becomes a commodity available only to those with the most money.

We also discussed concrete solutions such as encouraging long-term and secure rents. building more affordable public housing, repurposing thousands of apartments that are currently staring empty, and regulating markets to reduce speculation.

In particular, we referred to the importance of building student dormitories, especially in urban centers with large universities. Investing in student accommodation could significantly help young people, but also reduce the pressure on the rental market, which is overstretched today.

What particularly encouraged me was the engagement and clarity with which young people put forward their views. The housing crisis is not a national but a European problem for which we need common, courageous and long-term solutions.

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