Newsflashes from the capital of Europe for CEPI members
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Friday, 28 November 2025 N°195
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EU launches new measures to strengthen and protect European democracies
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The European Commission presented the European Democracy Shield on the 12th of November following President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of the initiative in her State of the Union address on the 10th of September. Together with the EU strategy for civil society, they present measures to protect the key pillars of our democratic systems: free people, free and fair elections, free and independent media, a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions.
The European Democracy Shield aims to strengthen the EU’s ability to counter disinformation, foreign interference, and threats to democratic processes by safeguarding the information space, reinforcing free elections, and boosting societal resilience.
On the other hand, the EU Strategy for Civil Society aims to protect and empower civil society organisations by improving engagement with EU institutions, creating support tools such as a Civic Space Knowledge Hub, and expanding access to sustainable funding like the proposed AgoraEU programme. Together, both initiatives seek to reinforce democratic resilience and safeguard fundamental rights across the EU.
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EU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen receives new recommendations to address housing crisis
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Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, received policy recommendations to address the housing crisis prepared by the Housing Advisory Board, an independent expert group appointed by the Commission tasked with providing concrete policy recommendations to help prepare the European Affordable Housing Plan.
The Board’s 48-page recommendation calls for a major shift in how housing is viewed. It emphasises defining affordability through long-term costs, quality, and community wellbeing, and prioritising a “housing first” approach to end homelessness.
Key recommendations include reusing existing buildings before building new ones, streamlining planning without lowering standards, expanding cost-rental models, and aligning housing policy with the green transition. The Board highlights the potential of modular construction, the need to rebalance urban–rural disparities through investment, and the urgent importance of better, coordinated EU-wide housing data.
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Irene Tinagli urges a new vision for housing in Europe
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In a recent interview with the Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia” , the chair of the European Parliament’s Special committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union, Irene Tinagli, argued that Europe long ignored the housing crisis, assuming the market would fix it, but rising prices and shortages have forced the EU to act.
Tinagli supports stronger EU involvement through funding, incentives, and coordination without overstepping national competences. She highlighted the need for stable rules, long-term investment, partnerships with cooperative and patient-capital actors, and tax policies that favour affordable, long-term rentals over short-term speculation.
Furthermore, Tinagli praised initiatives like Mayors for Housing for bringing real expertise to Brussels and stresses that governments, not just the Commission, must support an ambitious EU housing agenda. In the short term, she calls for less bureaucracy, new financial tools, better use of vacant homes, and limits on excessive tourist rentals.
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EIB grants €113 million to Barcelona for 640 new social housing units
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The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a €113 million lending facility together with the Barcelona City Council aimed at constructing 640 new housing units spread across nine public social housing developments in the city. This project, which puts the EU’s policy objectives in tackling the housing crisis into practice, will benefit approximately 2040 vulnerable people among which 70% are going to be women.
This is not the first time the EIB finances housing in Barcelona as it has already worked with the Municipal Institute for Housing and Renovation of Barcelona (IMHAB), helping complete 1700 housing units so far.
The agreement was announced during the “Building Change” conference, where the EIB also highlighted its new €400 million HousingTechEU initiative to boost innovation, reduce construction costs and accelerate the delivery of sustainable, affordable housing. City leaders and EIB representatives stressed the importance of long-term investment, European cooperation and financial tools to address the housing crisis.
The project aligns with the EIB’s broader strategy to support climate action, social infrastructure and affordable housing across Europe, and reinforces Barcelona’s municipal housing plan, Pla Viure.
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